Is Crime On The Rise In Russellville?
By: Jocelyn Tovar, KARK 4 NEWS
Updated: October 26, 2012
Russellville's Downtown Rotary Club putting on its annual pork-fest raising money for local school children.
Members like Carol Shoptaw, have a finger on the pulse of the community.
Noticing more and more crime driven headlines.
"I would say yes crime is on the rise," said Shoptaw.
A concern Russellville police said isn't falling on deaf ears.
"You do hear it on occasion because of recent crimes in the area," said Officer Drew Latch.
There's been one homicide and one more rape compared to this time last year and drug-related crimes have almost doubled from 2011.
However Officer Latch said that's not an indication of a problem.
"The crime all together is actually down in Russellville," he said.
Instead he said crimes are simply getting more attention than ever before.
Carol and the rest of her rotary crew said they're confident police will be able to keep a lid on criminals.
"I feel safe in the community and always have," she said.
Members like Carol Shoptaw, have a finger on the pulse of the community.
Noticing more and more crime driven headlines.
"I would say yes crime is on the rise," said Shoptaw.
A concern Russellville police said isn't falling on deaf ears.
"You do hear it on occasion because of recent crimes in the area," said Officer Drew Latch.
There's been one homicide and one more rape compared to this time last year and drug-related crimes have almost doubled from 2011.
However Officer Latch said that's not an indication of a problem.
"The crime all together is actually down in Russellville," he said.
Instead he said crimes are simply getting more attention than ever before.
Carol and the rest of her rotary crew said they're confident police will be able to keep a lid on criminals.
"I feel safe in the community and always have," she said.
