TOWN OF WALLKILL – Top town officials in Wallkill touted stats on Monday that show crime is down in the town, which is known for its diversity from shopping centers to farmland.
Police Chief Robert Hertman and Town Supervisor Edward Diana credited the work of the officers with reducing crime.
Diana said since he became supervisor two years ago, he has made public safety one of his top priorities in Wallkill.
“Certainly the amount of people we have on our force, the amount of arrests that are up, that translates to a safer town,” he said. “And Wallkill, as long as I am supervisor of this town, working along with the great down board that I have, we will be the safest town in Orange County and these figures show that.”
Hertman announced State Division of Criminal Justice Services figures that showed in 2018, major crimes were down 18 percent from 2017; violent crimes fell by 28 percent; motor vehicle thefts dropped by 57 percent; aggravated assaults declined by 38 percent; robberies fell by 23 percent, and larcenies were down by 17 percent.
Burglaries increased by 73 percent and rapes increased by 33 percent.
The police force has 49 full-time and 24 part-time officers, the largest compliment the department has had in its history.
Year-to-date in 2019, arrests were up 38 percent.
