Both violent and property crime in New York state dropped during the first six months of 2005.
But in Cayuga County a remarkable number of violent deaths occurred in the same time period.
Statewide, there was a 5.3 percent decline in the murder rate. There was a 0.4 percent decline in violent crimes and a 3.3 percent drop in property crimes.
Gov. George Pataki heralded the preliminary statistics
compiled by the FBI from 10,374 police agencies around the country.
“Our continued success builds on the dramatic reductions in crime we achieved by implementing tough, smart criminal justice initiatives,” Pataki said in a news release. “And the continued hard work of law enforcement officials from Buffalo to Babylon.”
The nation's murder rate jumped 2.1 percent during the first months of this year.
The biggest increase in small towns and the Midwest, according to the Federal Bureau Investigation's preliminary statistics for 2005.
In Cayuga County, however, in one calendar year, there have been six violent deaths, five in Auburn and one in Aurelius.
“We've had that evidence of violent crime here locally,” said Cayuga County Sheriff Rob Outhouse. “Our workload has not decreased if statistically the governor and his people are saying the numbers are down. Our workload has stayed high with the complexity of crimes we're dealing with, domestic issues, drug issues.”
In addition to the unusual number of violent deaths, Auburn Police Department Chief Gary Giannotta also reported anecdotally that his office has had an increase of violent sexual crimes in the past year.
“Overall, across the state, they're probably all down in terms of serious crimes,” said Giannotta. “But there's absolutely nothing we could do to change the homicides we've had. The norm for us is none. To have five in a year is just phenomenal. It's just really terrible.”
In Cayuga County during the first six months of 2005, Bradley Laning, 17, stabbed girlfriend Andrea Kell, pregnant with his unborn child, to death March 31. And Aurelius resident Bradley Foster strangled his wife in April before committing suicide.
In addition to these, Auburn resident John Beer was shot to death in his home Dec. 21, 2004, in what police say likely was a robbery.
The same day Beer was killed, 16-year-old Teri Whyte held her hand over her infant's mouth and passageway in an attempt to stop him from crying. He was dead the next day.
Anthony Agee died from a stab wound July 24. Jolynn Wilson was charged by police with criminally negligent homicide for allegedly forcibly placing a baby bottle into her 2 1/2-month-old son's mouth in an effort to stop him from crying. The child died Aug. 16.
Both Joshua Nervina, charged with first-degree manslaughter in Agee's stabbing, and Wilson have their court cases pending.
In Buffalo and Rochester rates of violent crime fell, but rates of violent crime increased in Syracuse.
The number of murders increased in all three cities: by one in Buffalo, by five in Rochester and by two in Syracuse.
The number of forcible rapes decreased by nine in Buffalo, by 12 in Rochester and increased by 15 in Syracuse.
Property crime, including burglaries, larcenies, motor vehicle thefts and arsons, increased in Buffalo.
Those categories decreased in both Rochester and Syracuse.
Full analysis of 2005's crime statistics, including local law enforcement rates, will be completed by the FBI next year.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Statewide, there was a 5.3 percent decline in the murder rate. There was a 0.4 percent decline in violent crimes and a 3.3 percent drop in property crimes.
Gov. George Pataki heralded the preliminary statistics
compiled by the FBI from 10,374 police agencies around the country.
“Our continued success builds on the dramatic reductions in crime we achieved by implementing tough, smart criminal justice initiatives,” Pataki said in a news release. “And the continued hard work of law enforcement officials from Buffalo to Babylon.”
The nation's murder rate jumped 2.1 percent during the first months of this year.
The biggest increase in small towns and the Midwest, according to the Federal Bureau Investigation's preliminary statistics for 2005.
In Cayuga County, however, in one calendar year, there have been six violent deaths, five in Auburn and one in Aurelius.
“We've had that evidence of violent crime here locally,” said Cayuga County Sheriff Rob Outhouse. “Our workload has not decreased if statistically the governor and his people are saying the numbers are down. Our workload has stayed high with the complexity of crimes we're dealing with, domestic issues, drug issues.”
In addition to the unusual number of violent deaths, Auburn Police Department Chief Gary Giannotta also reported anecdotally that his office has had an increase of violent sexual crimes in the past year.
“Overall, across the state, they're probably all down in terms of serious crimes,” said Giannotta. “But there's absolutely nothing we could do to change the homicides we've had. The norm for us is none. To have five in a year is just phenomenal. It's just really terrible.”
In Cayuga County during the first six months of 2005, Bradley Laning, 17, stabbed girlfriend Andrea Kell, pregnant with his unborn child, to death March 31. And Aurelius resident Bradley Foster strangled his wife in April before committing suicide.
In addition to these, Auburn resident John Beer was shot to death in his home Dec. 21, 2004, in what police say likely was a robbery.
The same day Beer was killed, 16-year-old Teri Whyte held her hand over her infant's mouth and passageway in an attempt to stop him from crying. He was dead the next day.
Anthony Agee died from a stab wound July 24. Jolynn Wilson was charged by police with criminally negligent homicide for allegedly forcibly placing a baby bottle into her 2 1/2-month-old son's mouth in an effort to stop him from crying. The child died Aug. 16.
Both Joshua Nervina, charged with first-degree manslaughter in Agee's stabbing, and Wilson have their court cases pending.
In Buffalo and Rochester rates of violent crime fell, but rates of violent crime increased in Syracuse.
The number of murders increased in all three cities: by one in Buffalo, by five in Rochester and by two in Syracuse.
The number of forcible rapes decreased by nine in Buffalo, by 12 in Rochester and increased by 15 in Syracuse.
Property crime, including burglaries, larcenies, motor vehicle thefts and arsons, increased in Buffalo.
Those categories decreased in both Rochester and Syracuse.
Full analysis of 2005's crime statistics, including local law enforcement rates, will be completed by the FBI next year.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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