2007.11.26
Crime data updates
While we still have no comprehensive crime data in the DataSphere, I've been cobbling together what I can from available sources.
In the public safety section, We've posted links to crime data online from Roanoke County, Vinton, Montgomery County, Blacksburg and Botetourt County. The presentation and quality varies. Vinton's data is mapped, while Blacksburg's is searchable. The rest are static offerings you have to scroll through, though they go back as much as two or three years or more.
Noteworthy for its absence is Roanoke City. The Roanoke Police Department offered offense reports on its crime analysis page until last week. The department's education information specialist, Aisha Johnson, said she took the data tables down while she revises the page. She could be done by the end of this week, she said. More on that when it's available.
Meanwhile, I've updated our homicide map to include homicides in the counties and cities surrounding Roanoke over the last two years.
Altogether, 24 homicides are mapped.
Yeah, I bet Roanoke City does not want everyone to know how many assaults go on downtown on the city market (like mine on Friday night leaving 202 - right in front of the restaurant). Posting these figure would be bad for business. What they really need to do is CLEAN UP THE GRUNGE that is down there. A broken nose, cracked ribs, bruises and cuts, I guess I am somewhat lucky that it wasn't worse.
Comment by Hiker123 — November 27, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
How do you get this report? What were the offenses?
"The city also wants to study the number of homeless involved in crimes. According to the police department, so far this year, nearly 1,100 homeless people were arrested for various crimes."
Seems like a blanket statement like this needs investigation on what the arrests were for in this 1100 number. Roanoke City reports numbers when it suits their agenda.
Comment by Valerie — November 28, 2007 @ 11:56 am