‘Significant’ drop in crime credited to Sheriff, deputies

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is touting the sheriff and deputies’ work with the community for a significant drop in crime in the outlying areas of the county.

The Sheriff’s Office published the end-of-year crime report data from 2018 on Friday.

According to the Uniform Crime Report, there was a 17 percent decrease in crime in the county compared with 2017. The crimes that were analyzed included murder, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft.

Here is the data that the EPCSO posted on its website in a news release:

Year Violent Crimes Property Crimes Total

2017 217 603 820

2018 158 530 688

Difference -32% -13% -17%

The Sheriff’s Office said that data from the Uniform Crime Report shows a 71 percent decrease in crime since Sheriff Richard Wiles and his administration took office in January 2009. Officials with the Sheriff’s Office said that decline in crime is due to the work by employees in its office as well as other law enforcement agencies, along with residents reporting crime to the authorities.

Year Violent Crimes Property Crimes Total

2008 224 1221 1445

2018 158 530 688

Difference -35% -78% -71%

Source: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office