Ambridge Police Chief James Mann shows a guide that the department uses to write reports, sharing that there is a specific code for everything they do. Photo Credit: Felicia Mycyk
By Felicia Mycyk
Ambridge Police turn in their crime statistics to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program.
According to the FBI website, law enforcement agencies across the nation voluntarily participate in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.
A list of the "10 Most Dangerous Cities" in the state recently released by Home Security Shield, a company that sells security systems, used the statistics to rank Ambridge as No. 2.
Ambridge Police turn in their crime statistics to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program.
According to the FBI website, law enforcement agencies across the nation voluntarily participate in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.
A list of the "10 Most Dangerous Cities" in the state recently released by Home Security Shield, a company that sells security systems, used the statistics to rank Ambridge as No. 2.
Ambridge Police Chief James Mann said he and a fellow officer when to a training in Meadville with the state police where they learned about the UCR codes.
Every time the police go to write a report, he said they have to assign each situation to a specific UCR code.
Codes are for violent crimes, loud music, trees being down and more, down to a minute specific offense.
The statistics collected on violent crime include murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and property crime (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.)
"Ambridge is as safe as it has ever been," Mann said. "We report crimes accurately."
Mann and another police officer created a guideline sheet to assist with the accurate reporting process.
He said UCR codes are important to obtain grants for equipment and other police grants.
"It is done the same way no matter whether you're in Anchorage, Alaska or Key West, Florida. It all gets submitted and goes to FBI."
Uniform Crime Reports are always a year behind. The 2013 report will not be released until December 2014.
"It's a misrepresentation of the truth," is what they did," Mann said. "You have to consider the source. It's a home security business trying to make business and they are not going to do so by saying Ambridge is the safest place in town."
"Talk with Larry at the bike shop. Little Athens is thriving, you see people coming in and out using the bank machine across the street. People are coming and going freely. All that riff raff is gone. Everyone here is doing their job."
Mann said he is offended by the list an doesn't think the police department deserves to be criticized for doing its job.
"I'm proud we are doing this above and beyond what is called for."
Every time the police go to write a report, he said they have to assign each situation to a specific UCR code.
Codes are for violent crimes, loud music, trees being down and more, down to a minute specific offense.
The statistics collected on violent crime include murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and property crime (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.)
"Ambridge is as safe as it has ever been," Mann said. "We report crimes accurately."
Mann and another police officer created a guideline sheet to assist with the accurate reporting process.
He said UCR codes are important to obtain grants for equipment and other police grants.
"It is done the same way no matter whether you're in Anchorage, Alaska or Key West, Florida. It all gets submitted and goes to FBI."
Uniform Crime Reports are always a year behind. The 2013 report will not be released until December 2014.
"It's a misrepresentation of the truth," is what they did," Mann said. "You have to consider the source. It's a home security business trying to make business and they are not going to do so by saying Ambridge is the safest place in town."
"Talk with Larry at the bike shop. Little Athens is thriving, you see people coming in and out using the bank machine across the street. People are coming and going freely. All that riff raff is gone. Everyone here is doing their job."
Mann said he is offended by the list an doesn't think the police department deserves to be criticized for doing its job.
"I'm proud we are doing this above and beyond what is called for."
In response to the article released by Home Security Shield, citizens are walking down Merchant Street to show that they do not agree with the ranking.
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