Editorial
September 26, 2008
By Staff
Keeping crime low is up to all of us
While it wasn’t that high to begin with, it seems that crime is on the decline in the Valley.
Statistics provided in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report show that violent crimes fell in both Snoqualmie and North Bend in 2007. In fact, Snoqualmie’s number of violent crimes declined to zero for the year, while North Bend’s fell from 15 to 13.
Property crimes also went down. The number of burglaries in Snoqualmie went from 26 to 16 and from 45 to 19 in North Bend. Motor vehicle thefts in North Bend dipped from 23 to 17 and 20 to 7 in Snoqualmie.
There are many reasons for those numbers, a respectful community and a dedicated police force being chief among them. Yet, as officials at both the Snoqualmie Police Department and the King County Sheriff’s office point out, none of it would be possible without watchful citizens.
Being responsible means making the right decisions regarding the safety of yourself and your family members, but it also means keeping an eye on your neighbor’s well-being. Neighborhood watch programs were created in 1972 by the National Sheriff’s Association and have been successful at lessening crimes in neighborhoods across the country ever since.
You don’t, however, need to be a part of one of these official programs to help your neighbor. Get to know the people on your street, pay attention to the details of everyday life and take note when something is out of the ordinary. It it’s too suspicious, don’t hesitate to call the police. There are a small number of police officers designated to man a large area and they admittedly depend on the help of dependable citizens. They encourage citizens to give them a call and are thankful for it, even when it turns out that the suspicions were wrong.
Of all the great aspects that come with living in the Valley, its low crime rate ranks toward the top. Those responsible for it should congratulate themselves. Now we must all strive to maintain it.
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