Cambridge crime numbers down, committed the most among youth
CAMBRIDGE, Md. – In Cambridge crime is on a downward trend.
“It’s certainly progress and we’re moving in the right direction,” said Police Chief Justin Todd.
Chief Justin Todd encouraged as crime stats are dropping in the 2023 Cambridge Year End Report. “Aggressive assaults are down and between the aggressive assaults and the regular simple assaults that we occur there’s an 18% decrease,” said Chief Todd.
Police say robberies in Cambridge were up, but homicide rates were better showing 7 in 2022 and down to 3 for 2023. It’s a number Chief Todd says he would like to see at 0, however, slow progress is still progress. They also identified who’s committing the serious crimes. “Crime within young adults that’s definitely the age range. Anywhere between 14 and 24, 25 that’s where we’re seeing more of our aggressive crimes taking place,” said Chief Todd.
Dorchester County health officials say kids need something to do to keep them from committing crimes. Now the Youth Action Council is in place to keep kids engaged. “The youth-led program for youth in the community to be positive peer influencers to actually make our community healthier,” said Meisha Woolford RN, the Lead Advisor on the Youth Action Council.
It’s a program that meets twice a month to talk about everyday situations that youth may come across. “The effects of vaping, they do the awareness on healthy behavior, not doing alcohol, or any other type of drugs and ultimately what that does is once you have peers promoting positive behavior in the community it decreases your violence, it decreases your crime,” Woolford explained.
Lead Advisor, MeishaWoolford says engaging kids at a younger age makes a difference because that’s where issues can spark. Chief Todd says they will continue to be a part of the community to keep crime on a downward trend. “Community-oriented policing, building the trust within the community and the police is key to working together, being out our patrol checks, our foot patrols, our community engagement,” said Chief Todd.
The Youth Action Council is accepting applicants. The Cambridge police department is also evaluating their staffing so they can get to a place where they’re supposed to be.
