The 2023 Albemarle Police Department Annual Report shows steady progress in the work to reduce crime in the City of Albemarle. Overall crime decreased 3.7% in 2023 compared to 2022. Total crime has shown an overall reduction of 23% over the past five years.

Read more about the 2023 report here or continue reading below.

APD utilizes the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in conjunction with the North Carolina and the Federal Bureau of Investigations to calculate the crime data for the City of Albemarle. North Carolina and the FBI utilizes data from Part I NIBRS reporting to calculate the crime statistics for cities.

In 2023, APD made a total of 1,306 arrests.

Case Clearance Data

APD’s Criminal Investigation Division successfully cleared, with arrests, the City’s only homicide that occurred in 2023.

Criminal Investigation Division

The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is assigned a variety of responsibilities. CID personnel perform their duties in conjunction with the department’s Patrol Division, Administration, and Records Division. CID personnel are also involved with a number of State, County, and other local organizations. Staffing for CID consists of one Captain, two Sergeants, and seven Detectives.

A total of 858 cases were handled by APD’s Criminal Investigation Division in 2023.

APD has a detective on the DEA/HIDTA task force for the Piedmont Region. In 2023, the group seized approximately 975 Kg of narcotics 201,210 dosage units, 32 firearms, and over $2,000,000 in cash seizures. These efforts resulted in 49 arrests for 2023.

Calls for Service

In 2023, there were a total of 29,185 calls for service. The total number of calls for service dropped by approximately 5% compared to 2022. Calls for service are categorized as citizen initiated or officer initiated. Citizen initiated calls are received by the Stanly County 911 Communications Center. Officer initiated calls take place as a result of real-time field observation.

Traffic Operations

APD is an active participant in the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program. The program is dedicated to promoting efforts to reduce traffic crashes through safe-driving initiatives including Click It or Ticket and Booze It & Lose It. These initiative help address issues such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, distracted driving, motorcycle safety, bicycle safety, pedestrian safety and other aspects of highway safety.

K-9 Unit

In 2023, the Albemarle Police Department reestablished the Police K-9 Unit. This unit is utilized for narcotics detection and patrol work. The K-9 Officer, Lord, is trained to search for and locate illegal drugs; perform tracks; evidence searches; building and subject searches; and criminal apprehension.

Cyber Crimes Against Children

The City of Albemarle’s Criminal Investigation Division has dedicated staff to incidents involving children and cybercrimes. This staff participates in the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. APD staff receives information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in reference to possible exploitation and other crimes against local children.

School Resource Officers

APD has four School Resource Officer (SRO) positions, one for each school in the City. SROs assist school administration in maintaining a safe and secure environment. The officer in the Middle School also offers instruction in the D.A.R.E. program, a drug abuse prevention education program intended to give children skills to resist peer pressure to use tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.

Youth Outreach

APD operates a summer Junior Academy for middle school age students. The academy features a variety of activities that explain the roles and responsibilities of police in the community. Students learn about everything from evidence collection to how a criminal court trial occurs.

In 2023, a total of 110 students participated in the D.A.R.E program. 15 students participated in APD's Junior Academy.

Community Outreach

At APD, community policing isn't just a concept; it's a commitment to building relationships with the people we protect and serve each day. It’s why you’ll see our officers at all sorts of events and activities across our City. In 2023, APD officers engaged the community in numerous ways including: Coffee With Cop events, the Downtown Fall Festival, the Downtown Christmas Parade, Holiday Heroes Shopping, Sweets and Stories with Stanly County Partnership, the Special Olympics, Faith and Blue Weekend, Back to School Bash, and many more.

In 2023, APD was proud to once again partner with Safe Kids to host Community Night Out at YMCA Park, where more than 1,100 people were in attendance.

Seizures

In 2023, APD successfully removed various types of illegal drugs from the street valued at a total of $266,812. These seizures occur in variety of ways:

-Traffic Stops
-Arrests
-Search Warrants

Overdose Cases

In 2023, there was a significant decline in the number of overdoses. The number of overdoses resulting in death also decreased.

Overdoses decreased 55%. There were 43 overdoses in 2023 compared to 94 in 2022. There were two fatal overdoses in 2023, compared to four in 2022.

Operation Medicine Drop

You can make your home a safer place by using the Operation Medicine Drop box at APD to dispose of expired or unneeded medications. The drop box is located in the lobby at APD and is open 24 hours a day. APD’s Evidence Custodian makes sure the medications are disposed of properly.

In 2023, 181,076 grams of medication were put in the drop box.

Internal Affairs

The Internal Affairs Division conducts internal and administrative investigations regarding police personnel, firearm discharges, use of force investigations, employee misconduct, and any other investigations as directed by the Chief of Police.

In 2023, out of 29,185 calls for service, the department received 15 complaints, just .00051% from all citizen contacts.The police department recorded five citizen complaints in 2023 and ten supervisor reported complaints.

Complaints may be made in person, by phone, in writing, or online at www.albemarlenc.gov/apdcomplaint

Records Service

The Records Division is comprised of five full-time civilian employees, one assigned to each Patrol Team and a Records Supervisor. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Two part-time employees are also employed and can be called to work when needed. Record Specialists work 12-hour shifts on a schedule identical to the Patrol Teams, allowing them to be available to assist the Patrol and Detective Divisions as well as the public at all times. Records personnel directs and advises all visitors to the Police Department and answers all incoming calls. Customer Service is our top priority at all times, both when interacting with the citizens of our city and when assisting members of Law Enforcement.

The Records Division maintains records through ONESolution Records Management Software (RMS), provided by CentralSquare Technologies. Criminal reports are vetted by the Records Division personnel to assure they comply with National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) requirements. Reports are then submitted to the NC State Bureau of Investigation.

Recruitment

In 2023, 117 people applied to join APD, a 43% increase compared to 2022. New recruits are hired by the department and sent to Basic Law Enforcement Training to become sworn police officers. In 2023, we hired four students with 4 graduating and starting their career with the department in 2023.

The City of Albemarle is dedicated to supporting its law enforcement professionals. Our police officers have received 6% pay increases each of the last two years. We've also instituted merit pay, making police officers eligible for a pay increase up to 10% in the 2023/2024 fiscal year.

Other benefits include 401 K, free health insurance, longevity package, and take home vehicle. Lateral sworn officers may receive compensation consideration for experience, education, bi-lingual skills, and adjustment of leave accrual with time in law enforcement.

Budget

APD's total budget in 2023 was $5,910,144. The budget is broken down in three ways:

$4.7 Million
Personnel - 81%
 
$967,412
Operating - 16%

$177,000
Capital Outlay -3%