Vallejo saw spike in murders last year, data released by police department shows
(Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
The City of Vallejo saw an increase in violent crimes last year, new data released by the Vallejo Police Department on Thursday revealed.
The data, released as part of the Vallejo Police Department’s annual transparency report, showed officers investigated 28 murders in the city last year, a 133 percent increase from the year prior.
Other categories of violent crime, including shootings, rape, arson and aggravated assault, also increased in 2020. More than 260 shootings were reported in 2020 compared to just over 190 the year prior.
All told, Vallejo saw an 11 percent increase in violent crime in 2020, with over 2,100 criminal cases investigated by officers and detectives compared to just under 1,900 in 2019.
The police department said it received more than 58,000 calls for service related to violent crimes, property crimes and other police matters last year, with more than 8,600 crime reports generated.
More than 1,080 people were arrested on felony charges and another 1,270 placed under arrest on suspicion of carrying out misdemeanor offenses, the data showed.
“In response to the increase in violent crimes, murders and shooting incidents, [Vallejo Police Chief Shawny] Williams established Operation PEACE in August 2020, a four-part plan focused on crime reduction and community policing,” a spokesperson for the Vallejo Police Department wrote in a report released on Thursday.
Nearly four dozen guns were taken off the streets and 85 individuals arrested as part of activities carried out through Operation PEACE, the police department said.
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