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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

CALERA– The Calera Police Department released their final patrol statistics for 2023 on Wednesday, Jan. 3 through their social media accounts.

The public release and display of these statistics is a practice that the department has undertaken for some time in the pursuit of transparency and public education, involvement and accountability.

For the month of December, the Calera Police Department investigated, reported and/or handled the following incidents within the city.

• 4 assaults
• 3 burglaries
• 20 domestic violence calls
• 69 motor vehicle accidents
• 5 hit-and-run cases
• 251 patrol requests
• 22 thefts
• 7 DUI’s
• 1 robbery
• 274 traffic stops
• 2 stolen vehicles
• 2 vehicle break ins
• 24 arrest warrants served
• 30 welfare checks

“Let’s all work together this year to keep these numbers low,” said Calera Police Chief David Hyche. “So many cities around our state are plagued by daily shootings and weekly murders.  The time to attack crime problems is when they first happen, not after they become the daily norm.”

In relation to numbers released for the month of November, the city saw an increase of three more assaults, one more burglary, one more DUI and six more domestic violence calls throughout the month of December.

However, Calera also saw a dramatic decrease in patrol requests, down by 170 from the prior month, and traffic stops were down by 47. Over the month that saw the city’s Christmas parade and holiday festivities, the number of motor vehicle accidents and requests for welfare checks both fell by 11. Thefts were down by 5, vehicle break-ins decreased by 4 and there were 2 fewer stolen vehicles.

“In the three years I have been here we have had two murders but that is still too many,” Hyche said. “(We ask the) Calera community—continue to partner with us in 2024 both with our prevention efforts in our schools and as our eyes and ears on the street.”

The Calera Police Department has also recently taken on efforts within Calera schools through the CASE program to combat criminal instances and promote community health and safety among the youth population, with a primary focus in its early stages on vaping cessation and education.

School resource officers have recently led vaping cessation classes at Calera High School, anti-vaping classes at Calera Middle School and online safety talks at Calera Elementary School.

“Thank you (the Calera community) for being a great partner,” Hyche said.