Crime in Freeport is down

Crime is down. Statistics released by the village of Freeport indicate that there has been a 24 percent reduction in crime in the village over the past two years. “Freeport is much safer than it was four years ago,” Kennedy said at a news conference on Dec. 8 on the steps of Village Hall where he also announced his bid for re-election.

In 2011 there were 1,088 crimes committed in the Village of Freeport including 213 violent crimes, according to Village statistics released to the media. Last year, 2015, the number of crimes committed in Freeport dropped to 839 including 139 violent crimes. Kennedy attributed this fall to several factors including the increase in the number of Freeport police officers, from 82 up to 100 officers, as well as the implementation of its LPR or license plate readers. This program uses digital surveillance technology – license-plate-readers – to monitor village streets for law-breaking motorists and wanted criminals at all major entry points along the village’s perimeter.

To date, the LPR system, nicknamed “Operation Safe Streets,” has helped catch 67 wanted individuals including an alleged killer and several robbery suspects.

The Village election will take place on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Andrew Hardwick, the former Mayor of Freeport, has put up signs in the village indicating that he will also run for re-election. He was not reachable by press time for comment.