WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (September 29, 2020) – The West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD) continues to make significant progress in reducing the number of violent crimes in the City, a priority of West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James.
Under the leadership of WPBPD Chief Frank Adderley, the department has achieved reductions in the following rates, for the months of January – August, when comparing 2020 to 2019:
- Violent crime: -11%
- Homicides: -33%
- Robberies: -37%
Chief Adderley credits the department’s ongoing initiatives, key partnerships and implementation of various technologies for the reduction. Key initiatives include:
- GHOST -- Gang Habitual Offender Suppression Team,
- DORS -- Desk Officer Reporting System,
- ShotSpotter technology, and
- Working with the community and encouraging them to work with law enforcement to help residents play a role in their neighborhood’s improved safety.
“I applaud and thank Chief Adderley and the entire West Palm Beach Police Department for this tremendous achievement,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “I have always said that all residents deserve to live in a safe neighborhood regardless of their zip code. While we have made great progress, we remain focused on continued public safety improvements, as residents’ safety will always be my top priority.”
“Even in the face of COVID-19, our officers have worked 24/7 to show up when they are needed the most, while keeping themselves and community members safe,” said WPBPD Chief Frank Adderley. “We will continue to respond to the call of duty to keep this downward trend, and we appreciate our agency partners whose help has made these statistics possible.”
While violent crime continues to decrease, WPBPD reminds residents to stay vigilant and follow preventative measures to keep themselves and their property safe. The department has received recurrent calls regarding home burglaries. Here are some tips on how to avoid home theft:
- Consider installing a burglar alarm system.
- Lock all doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked.
- Don't let your daily mail or package deliveries build up while you are away. Have the post office hold your mail or arrange for a friend to take these items regularly.
- Install deadbolt locks on exterior facing doors.
- Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-activated light is recommended for backyards.
- Trim trees/shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
- Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places. Burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
- Form a neighborhood watch group.
- Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately.
WPBPD remains committed to resolving all instances of crime or concern throughout the City. To learn more about the West Palm Beach Police Department, please visit: www.wpb.org/police or call (561) 822-1900 (TTY: 800-955-8771). In the event of an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
