Council discusses Globe crime rates and policing

Published crime rates don’t reflect reality in Globe

In a presentation titled, “Is Globe safe? You decide,” Chief Dale Walters addressed Council regarding crime rates in Globe, in response to comments made during the public comment period of the last regular Council meeting.

Walters referenced an article that came out in a magazine a few years ago that said Globe has the third-highest crime rate in the state.

He explained that the crime rate, which was calculated as the ratio of crimes per 1,000 population, was “garbage math” because Globe has a service population that is much higher than the city’s official population. It is this service population that the police department serves. 

Globe’s official population is around 7,800, but the service population at a bare minimum, is 24,000 to 26,000, Walters said. However, he said, you also have to add to that the people passing through on the highway, which raises the actual service population to 32,000 to 36,000.

“When you look at 287 shoplifts at Walmart, how many are residents of our community, and how many are outside?” Chief Dale Walters

Walters pointed out that this community is the retail hub for an 85-mile circumference. People from San Carlos, Roosevelt, Tonto, and El Capitan are coming here to shop, eat, get vehicle maintenance, pay bills, visit County offices, and visit loved ones in the hospital, for example.
“If you equate the crime numbers to the actual service population of 32,000 to 36,000,” he said, “Globe’s crime rates turn out to be about average, and that’s why when you walk down the street in Globe, you don’t feel threatened.

(Reddit users also don’t buy the hype in the 2020 article, saying, Yes, it is safe. Boring. But Safe) 

A Bigger Presence

Walters explained the police department is increasing its presence, including the number of business checks, traffic stops, and patrols they do, which will reduce crime. Last year the PD did 23 business checks, and in the first six months of this year they did 196. About traffic stops, five years ago, the PD was doing 2,100 per year, and in the first six months of this year, the PD has already done 3,000.

“Globe is one of the few places where you could lose your wallet and you’d get it back with everything that was in it.”

Councilman Fernando Shipley

About burglaries, Walters said in 2017, there were 160 burglaries, which was a high point.

The PD has attacked that crime with increased patrols and increased investigations. The PD now has five detectives, including three full-time and two task force members. Increased manpower on patrol is also helping. Walters said five years ago, there were 14 men and women on the police force, and now there are 30.

As a result, burglaries were reduced to 46 last year. So far in 2023 there have been only 22, Walters said.

Complaint at last meeting was inaccurate.

Regarding the comment that was made at the last meeting about police lack of responsiveness, Chief Walters said he looked at the records and the complaint turned out to be not accurate. He explained the trespassing complaint was closed for lack of leads, because the person reporting it was actually not at the location but was monitoring it by camera.

After a burglary report at the address, an arrest was made and then cleared. There was a vehicle theft at the same address, and the vehicle was later recovered. The culprit was not discovered, but Walters said part of the problem is that when the police interviewed the person who reported the theft and asked if they knew who might have stolen the vehicle, they responded, “I don’t know, I’m a tweaker.”

“Crime is an interesting phenomenon because it ebbs and flows. And we can get a bad element that comes through town that could spike our [numbers], and bad things happen now and then. But rest assured you have a competent police department to address those issues.” Chief Dale Walters

Walters said that individual is currently in prison for other felony charges and said if you are engaging in a lifestyle where you’re encouraging criminals to be around you, you’re increasing the potential that you will become a victim of crime.

In conclusion, Walters said all of the burglaries were responded to, and you can’t take a microcosm of the community and assess the city’s overall conditions.

Traffic issues and fatalities a concern

Chief Walters said his main concern is traffic issues and in particular fatalities. He said Globe is averaging two fatalities per year, but the city has already had two this year. That number is for fatalities only within Globe city limits. Walters said if you expand that to include Cobre Valley and other areas, the number of people losing their lives on our roads is “ridiculous.”

“It’s not like we like to write tickets, but the simple fact is people are dying on our roadways.” Chief Dale Walters

Because of the mountainous terrain and curving roads, any amount of driver inattention can be dangerous. Along with increasing patrols, the PD is also using flashing signs to impact speeding.
Walters said we have a drug element in the community that is still a concern. However, drug overdoses are down, Walters said.
Councilman Gonzalez pointed out it’s necessary to be skeptical when you read things on the Internet. Go look at the source, he said, and research the source.

Comment on community pool rules and lifeguard behavior

During the public comment period at the end of the meeting, a commenter had several questions about rules and behavior at the community pool. Jepson pointed out that Council cannot respond to comments made during public comment, but said City staff would follow up to find out more about the issues.

Motions approved

Council also approved motions for the following:
Accounts payable in the amount of $511,532.18
Denial of replacement windows for the upper-level front facade of the Big Nose Kate building located at 576 N. Broad Street. Council discussed the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission’s recommendation to deny permission for the replacement windows. City Manager Paul Jepson explained that historical preservation requires a recommendation whenever major or minor changes are proposed. An applicant who received a recommendation of denial from HPAC chose to bring the issue before Council, which will have the last word. Linda Oddonetto said the building had suffered some broken windows and the owners replaced them to stabilize the building. The windows aren’t consistent with HPAC’s guidelines and don’t match the windows of other buildings in the historic district. The applicant was not present at the meeting.
A proposed sign for Anna’s Petals on the building located at 610 N. Broad Street. The Historic Preservation Advisory Commission recommended approval.
A new paint scheme for the buildings located at 780 N. Broad Street. The Historic Preservation Advisory Commission recommended approval.

Members of the Globe City Council: Mayor Al Gameros, Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton (District 4), and Council members Freddy Rios (District 1), Mike Pastor (District 2), Jesse Leetham (District 3), Mariano Gonzalez (District 5), and Fernando Shipley (District 6). All members were in attendance at this meeting except Councilman Pastor.

 

To view this meeting online, visit .

The Globe City Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The meetings are currently open to the public at 50% capacity.

 

Members of the public are requested to wear a mask except when seated. Seating is limited to allow for social distancing.
Public members can also participate in City of Globe public meetings by viewing the meeting live on YouTube. To view the Council meeting live stream, go to the City of Globe’s YouTube channel (search for City of Globe Arizona). 
To speak to agenda items before or during the meeting, call or text (928) 200-0154 or email council@globeaz.gov. If you desire to speak to the Council during an agenda item.