8388_LGP_MechanicFalls_2022AnnualReport_Web

POLICE DEPARTMENT

MECHANIC FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Mechanic Falls Police Department has continued to recruit and train new officers through 2022. We have hopes of establishing a police force that can retain officers who get to know the community and the people who live and work here. Officer retention is always a goal but we often find ourselves losing good officers to other departments. We remain vigilant and will forge on to get to a full staff of 6 Police Officers to patrol and investigate crimes in Mechanic Falls. We try to participate in as many community events as we can. We took part in

the Memorial Day Parade and the Christmas tree lighting celebration and parade. We participated in an event at the municipal complex where people could meet an officer and see the cruiser up close. We try to do as much as we can but are sometimes limited due to our staffing shortage. Meeting the public and the especially the youth of our community is always fun. We like to see everyone when we can be relaxed and not in the performance of answering a call or complaint. Crimes against persons was down by 14 percent over 2021 but the crimes against property was up by 45 percent. So that equates to fewer assaults, sex crimes and threatening/harassing crimes in comparison to 2021. On the contrary there was more theft and vandalism in 2022 than in 2021. The Police Department investigated 77 traffic crashes. The Police Department made 71 total arrests for the 2022 calendar year. Some of these are summons arrests (criminal offense and the subjects were given a summons to court) and 33 taken into custody arrests. The age range was from 11-17 age group to 55 and up age group. I want to close with my usual

comment. This is your town and we need you to help us keep it safe. Report suspicious behavior. Lock your doors and put your property away. Do not make yourself an easy victim of crime. Thank you for your support!!

Jeffrey Goss Chief of Police

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