Crime continues to trend down month-after-month according to the Lathrop Police Department’s annual report that was published on Thursday and gives a snapshot of the first 12 months that the city-operated police force has been active in the community.

While there are no official numbers to compare the annual statistics too, the report – which chronicles events from June 29, 2022 through June 30, 2023 – notes that crime rates continue to trend down in the community when monthly statistics are analyzed internally.

And the agency was busy in its first 12 months of operation.

According to the report Lathrop Police officers took 3,254 reports, made 994 arrests – 321 of which were for felony charges – and issued 2,628 citations.

The department also booked 78 guns into evidence, engaged in 12 vehicle pursuits, responded to 311 traffic collisions and 33 DUI-related collisions, and made 70 DUI arrests – averaging more than five every month.

While crime statistics are trending down, the city has seen an uptick in the number of traffic collisions involving driving under the influence and are planning on taking a number of steps to address that development – starting with adding another traffic motorcycle officer to patrol operations starting this month.

The agency is also looking at conducting sobriety checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols during its second year of operations to help stem the alarming rise in DUI crashes. Agencies throughout the area routinely use specialized grant funding to help pay for the overtime necessary to conduct DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols during strategic windows such as holiday weekends when alcohol consumption typically increases.

Currently the Lathrop Police Department conducts its business with a new fleet of 16 Ford Explorer Police Interceptors that are used for patrol and seven Dodge Chargers for command staff and investigations. The department also repurposed 12 patrol vehicles and three motorcycles that were returned to the city by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. After they were painted and upfitted to align them with the new fleet, they were put into operation as patrol vehicles, community service vehicles, K9 vehicles, and command vehicles.

The annual report – which next year will include a year-over-year comparison of the agency’s statistics – also includes an introduction to the personnel that comprise the new agency and can be accessed by visiting the City of Lathrop’s website at www.ci.lathrop.ca.us.

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.