By Jackie Seabolt
Davie County Enterprise Record
COOLEEMEE ó When Bobby West began his job as police chief almost three years ago, he wanted to make a difference in the mill town.
At this monthís town board meeting, West reported what his department is doing and itís safe to say a difference is being made.
Crime is down 25 percent in Cooleemee.
The No. 1 problem for the town is speeding, followed by drivers without licenses, and stop sign violations came in third.
West said the first year he was chief there was a 4 percent reduction in crime; in 2009 there was another drop of 21 percent.
West told the board the previous police department administration only logged three arrests for 2007.
ěThis year we did 53 arrests plus 26 warrants,î West said.
An activity log events summary West gave to the board showed that Cooleemee police officers responded to a total of 24,161 events in 2010.
Those events include security checks at the school and park, patrolling RiverPark and checking the shopping center.
ěItís just a matter of how much time you allocate for each place,î West said. ěAnd itís working.î
In 2007, the activity log summary West presented showed the police department responded to a total of 3,060 events.
West said the previous administration had two full-time officers. He now has three officers on staff.
Commissioner Chris Branham said, ěYouíve only added one full-time officer and youíve done four times the number of school checks, 18 times the arrests, five times the ABC store checks and 14 times the accidents.î
Branham pointed out that prior reporting may not have been as detailed, ěBut even with that margin of error, you are all to be commended. I think itís great.î
Mayor Lynn Rumley told West, ěItís not just the addition of one officer, but because youíve pulled together as a department and the pride they have in their work.î
West said that the current relationships Cooleemee Police Department has with other agencies, including the Mocksville Police Department, Davie County Sheriffís Office, and the N.C. State Highway Patrol, is the best they have ever been.
ěIím very proud of that and proud of what the guys are doing,î West told commissioners.