The Rockville City Police Department reported a decrease in violent crimes in 2020, in an annual crime report that analyzes the year’s crime statistics and details the department’s ongoing community policing mission.
“Our nation continues to experience profound challenges in the law enforcement world,” Chief Victor V. Brito wrote in a message introducing the report. “I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of the men and women of the Rockville City Police Department, and express my gratitude to the community members of Rockville for their support. All of the Department’s accomplishments are a direct result of many people working together to do things right. Exceptional personnel and community support are vital to the Department’s continued growth and success.”
Each year, the department prepares a crime report under the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System.
RCPD’s 66 officers responded to 20,280 calls for service in 2020, or 71% of all calls within Rockville’s city limits to city or county police, or the county sheriff’s office.
Overall, between 2019 and 2020, crimes against people, which include homicides, assaults and sex offenses, decreased by 6.8%, from 424 offenses in 2019 to 395 offenses in 2020.
Crimes against property, including burglaries, robberies, thefts and vandalism, decreased by 8.8% (from 1,721 to 1,570).
Crimes against society, including drug, prostitution and weapons offenses, decreased by 42%, from 369 to 214, including a 47.4% decrease in drug/narcotic violations.
City police responded to 23 reports of heroin or opioid overdoses in 2020, an 8% decrease from 2019, and nine reports of heroin or opioid possession, a 47% decrease.
The report also includes:
- A table showing arrests by race, gender and age and detailing arrests and citations. In 2020, there were 504 arrests, including 78 for driving under the influence; 7,493 parking tickets issued and 29 firearms seized.
- A table detailing citations issued and the operation of the city’s speed camera program.
- A report on complaints of officer misconduct, use-of-force incidents, in-custody deaths and vehicle crashes involving department employees.
- A list of Distinguished and Meritorious Service Citations for department employees.
- A section on the department’s strategies and initiatives, including its focus on recruitment and retention with an emphasis on diversity in hiring, and increased training opportunities.
Find the report, which will be included in an annual report published by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments this summer, at www.rockvillemd.gov/police.