Overall Crime Drops, Sex Assault Cases Rise in 2012

Amherst Police had less crime to deal with last year, but had to contend with many more sexual assault investigations, according to Amherst Police chief Mark Reams.

The police chief said in the 2012 town report that the total number of crime dropped 14 percent compared to 2011. Crimes against property, such as burglary, criminal mischief and criminal trespass, were down 27 percent last year.

General calls for police service from the public rose 49 percent from the previous year.

Although criminal activity was down overall, Reams said that sexual assault investigations rose 67 percent last year. Fifteen cases were reported last year compared to just five the previous year.

Reams noted that four of these assaults stemmed from a single perpetrator whose victims came forth after years of silence. High school-aged offenders rose last year, which includes both consensual sex with an underage victim and non-consensual sex.

A full report of the police department's activities in 2012 from the police chief below:

The Amherst Police Department underwent significant staffing changes in 2012. In March, Lieutenant James Brace accepted the position of Chief of Police in his native town of New Boston, NH. Lieutenant Brace had been in charge of the Operations Division of the department, and his position was promptly filled through the promotion of Sergeant Anthony Ciampoli. During his 10 years with the department, Lieutenant Ciampoli has distinguished himself a true leader and devoted citizen of Amherst. In a very short time, Lieutenant Ciampoli’s diverse knowledge and abilities have already demonstrated his suitability as commander of the men and women in our uniformed division.

Lieutenant Ciampoli’s former position of Patrol Sergeant was recently filled in December by another long-time veteran of the department, Officer Chad Blake. During his 11 years with the department, Officer Blake has remained a valuable asset to the patrol division, and has further distinguished himself through his proficiency as a certified Emergency Medical Technician and the department’s lead Firearms Instructor. In addition to his other duties, Sergeant Blake has now taken over as the department’s Training Officer, and is tasked with providing quality training opportunities to every officer and to maintain required yearly training compliance standards as set by the NH Police Academy.

The departure of Lieutenant Brace also left vacant the D.A.R.E. Officer position at the Amherst Middle School. The D.A.R.E. program has been a longstanding symbol of partnership between the Amherst Police Department and our community, and we remain dedicated to that partnership. In furtherance of that relationship, the department is pleased to announce the recent graduation of Officer Sarah Arnold from the 25th Northern New England D.A.R.E. Instructor School. Officer Arnold is in her fourth year of employment with the department, having earned a Master of Science degree in Crime and Justice Studies from Suffolk University shortly after being hired as an officer in 2009. The D.A.R.E. program remains a valuable and well-received course of instruction for our 47 middle-schoolers, and we look forward to the successful continuation of D.A.R.E. under  the leadership of Officer Arnold.

Finally, October of this year was marked by the departure of Chief Peter Lyon who retired after more than 32 years of service as a full-time member of the department. Chief Lyon was hired as a full-time officer in 1980, after having participated in the Cadet program and working as a part-time officer from 1977 to 1980. Chief Lyon was promoted to Sergeant in 1991, and to Lieutenant of the Support Division in 2000. Chief Lyon also served as the department prosecutor from 1989 until his promotion to Chief of Police in 2006. Chief Lyon grew up in Amherst and graduated from Milford Area Senior High School in 1976, and later graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 1980. Chief Lyon exemplified the professionalism that has always been associated with the department, and his contributions will continue to be realized for years to come.

The department also hired two new officers in 2012 to fill two of our three roster vacancies; Officer Heather Blase of Milford, NH, and Officer Joseph Cerra of Amherst, NH. The number of quality police officer applicants has dwindled nationwide over recent years, and Amherst has seen no exception to that trend. The department, however, remains dedicated to seeking out and hiring only the best applicants, and we were unusually fortunate to find two exceptionally qualified candidates in the same year with ties to the local area. Efforts to fill the one remaining vacancy will continue into 2013.

Statistics show that in 2012, crimes against property –burglary, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass- were down 27% from last year. General calls for police service to the public were up 49% from 2011. Sexual assault investigations increased 67% in 2012  from five to 15. Worthy of note is the fact that four of those assaults are attributable to a  single perpetrator whose victims came forward several years after the date of the  offenses. The remaining increase of 55% is attributable to offenders of high school age, which includes both consensual encounters with a victim under the age of 16, and nonconsensual encounters among individuals who were known to each other. However,  2012 showed an overall reduction in the total number of crimes of 14% from 2011.

Uniformed patrol presence along our roads, through our neighborhoods, and in our  schools and businesses has always been the backbone of our law enforcement efforts.  Though we continue to apply our investigative experience to crimes that have been  committed, the Amherst Police Department remains focused upon the prevention of  crime and injury through education and our visibility in the community. As always, we  encourage the citizens of Amherst to bring forward any observations, concerns, or  suggestions as we work together to provide the best quality of life for our town.