Michael Lewis, an administrative lieutenant and public information officer for the Kent City Police Department, discussed the current crime trends in Kent and the measures police are taking to address and prevent crime in the community in an exclusive interview with KentWired. 

Lewis gave his insight into the types of crimes commonly reported, crime prevention strategies, community collaboration and ways residents can actively participate in ensuring the safety and security of their neighborhoods.

Ignatius: Can you provide an overview of the current crimes in Kent?

Lt. Lewis: The statistics on our annual report show a downward trend in reported crimes in Kent. While specific numbers are hard to determine right now, there has been a reduction in overall crime rates compared to previous years, which is a positive development for the community.

Ignatius: What are the most common types of crimes reported in the area?

Lt. Lewis: Traffic violations are probably the most common thing we see, so we do proactive traffic enforcement. We make a lot of traffic stops, but we also get several traffic complaints. People are reporting traffic violators, speeders, people who are running stop signs or people who are driving recklessly through a specific area. I would say disorderly conduct. So generally, disorderly behavior, loud parties, loud music, public intoxication, people acting disorderly. Lastly, I would say we saw an increase in domestic violence offenses last year. It was higher than most of the previous few years. I’ll also share this annual report with you. 130 arrests for domestic violence last year, which was much higher than 103 the previous year. So that’s something we’re concerned about. That’s a higher number than we’ve seen in most of the last several years. 

Ignatius: Are there any specific measures that the police department is putting in place to help reduce domestic violence offenses?

Lt. Lewis: So we do a lot of random patrols. We try to make sure that we get into as many of our neighborhoods as possible, and we try not to be too predictable in our random patrols. Education is very important, whether it be in person, speaking with residents or learning more about crime trends in their neighborhoods and communities. But we also do a lot of education on social media, reminding people of different tips to protect their belongings and certain laws and violations that are common within the city. So education and prevention go a long way. 

Ignatius: How can residents actively participate in ensuring the safety and security of their neighborhoods?

Lt. Lewis: Residents can take ownership of their neighborhoods by being vigilant, securing their belongings and reporting any suspicious activities to the police. By partnering with law enforcement and practicing basic crime prevention tips, residents can actively contribute to reducing crime in their communities.

Ignatius: Are there any other specific crime trends or patterns that Kent residents should be aware of? 

Lt. Lewis: From time to time, we see a sharp increase in catalytic converter theft. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with that; it’s theft of part of the exhaust system from vehicles. Someone can quickly cut off a piece of your exhaust system and sell it to scrapyards. There’s a precious metal in that exhaust system that can be sold for a little bit of quick cash. I always encourage people to make sure that they park their vehicles in garages if they have them, park in lighted areas and be mindful of that. Other than that, let’s focus on the trends we’ve already discussed.

Ignatius: What support does the police department offer to residents who may have concerns about crime in the area?

Lt. Lewis: The police department provides an anonymous tip line, tip 411, for residents to report crime tips without revealing their identity. This allows residents to safely share information about criminal activities without fear of retaliation. The information goes through an independent third party and all identifying information is scrambled. They can contact us; we can even respond to them and have communication back and forth, and we’ll never have any idea who that person is. So, if you wanted to report suspected drug activity in the home or apartment next to you, you could do that safely and anonymously; we’ll never be able to identify who you are. If you see suspicious behavior in your neighborhood, you can use the text app. We don’t use it for ongoing crimes or current events. However, it is a useful tool that we offer to the community free of charge.

Ignatius: Are there any specific areas in Kent where residents should be wary in terms of crime?

Lt. Lewis: I haven’t done a heat map recently to see what areas are running higher than others, relevant to certain crimes. I always encourage folks who live in apartment complexes to be very vigilant and make sure that they are securing their vehicles, their apartments and their belongings. Oftentimes, a lot of thefts will happen in apartment complexes because there are so many vehicles, it’s a target-rich environment and living so closely together can increase the likelihood of noise complaints or someone’s behavior offending somebody else. Living very close to your neighbors will certainly be a little bit more difficult.

Ignatius Ogbu is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].