ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD) released its 2023 Annual Report on Monday, March 12, 2024. Among the statistics related to crime are traffic, operations, and support services.

Fatal crashes in Albemarle County decreased 43.75% when compared to 2022. As a whole, ACPD made 9,406 traffic stops last year.

In 2023, Albemarle County launched the Human Services Alternative Response Team (HART), a joint program of the Albemarle Polie, Fire Rescue, and Social Services. Its purpose is responding to and following up on emergency calls related to mental health and/or substance use related through a collaborative, trauma-informed approach. Mental health incidents have increased year-to-year in Albemarle County, with a 15.7% increase in 2023. In a news release, ACPD calls it an increase unrelated to the creation of HART buy that it highlights the crucial role the new team plays in addressing Albemarle County’s needs.

ACPD also continues to foster strong partnerships both between local, regional and federal stakeholders. ACPD is a member of the Community Safety Working Group (CSWG), which works to identify gun violence reduction solutions and recommend activities that will have the greatest potential impact on reducing gun violence and enhancing community safety. The department has also joined the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that brings together stakeholders at all levels to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

The full report can be viewed online at www.albemarle.org/police