A briefing on the annual Report on Crime and Crime Control at the COG Board of Directors’ November meeting sparked a robust discussion on strategies for ensuring safe communities throughout the region. The crime report, prepared by the COG Police Chiefs Committee and presented to the board by the committee’s chair and City of Laurel Police Chief Russell Hamill, provides an analysis of trends experienced in the metropolitan Washington region throughout 2021.

The newly released report details reductions from 2020 levels in several crime categories, including a 1.9 percent decrease in property crime, and a 15 percent reduction in violent crime largely driven by a decrease in aggravated assaults. However, some categories experienced a rise, including a 9 percent increase in vehicle thefts, a 5 percent increase in robberies, and a 17 percent increase in homicides between 2020 and 2021.

Over a 5-year period, the report details a 0.8 percent decrease in the crime rate per capita, representing an overall decline, despite a growing regional population and a 5 percent increase in calls for service.

“If a crime just happened to you, your neighbor, on your block, crime just went up,” expressed COG Board Vice Chair and D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen. “There’s a strong need for a “both/and” approach to reach individuals at risk to intervene before harm is done.”

Several board members shared interest in pursuing methods of prevention and comprehensive de-escalation tactics.

“By the time people get to you and the courts, there’s already been some failure in what’s happened. Some education, some prevention, some deterrence… prevention would help you all,” shared COG Board Member and Loudoun County Board Chair Phyllis Randall.

Since 2002, COG’s crime report has provided insights into crime trends, statistics, and regional initiatives as local law enforcement agencies work together to mitigate crime for a safer, more secure region.

“Through COG, we’ve established more robust agreements with agencies. COG is the perfect avenue for this, for us to be able to establish these contacts,” explained Chief Hamill, emphasizing the importance of swift and clear communication among jurisdictions. 

The report outlined joint training and operational coordination, information sharing, and collaboration as key priorities of the COG Police Chiefs Committee.

Police staffing levels, which have been particularly impacted since the COVID-19 pandemic, were also discussed as part of the broader conversation on contributing factors to crime trends in the region. The report notes a 4.5 percent decrease in sworn officers and 6.3 percent decrease in civilian personnel compared to 2020.

“We have to be guarded against lowering our standards and bringing people into our profession that can cause us issues down the road… we still want highly trained, highly professional police officers who want to do constitutional policing, want to stand up for their communities,” said Chief Hamill as he provided insight into the challenges of recruitment and retention of officers faced by jurisdictions across the region.

In addition, the board was briefed on joint initiatives among local law enforcement agencies, including the COG Safe Roads Task Force set up in late 2021, prompted by a sharp increase of illegal street racing in 2020. Within the first few months of the task force’s operation, members reported a decrease in illegal exhibition driving in the region.

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2021 Report on Crime and Crime Control