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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – During a presentation to the Alabaster City Council, Alabaster Chief of Police Curtis Rigney revealed that crimes rates in multiple categories were down in 2024.

During his presentation, Rigney shared that the number of incidents of unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle was down 47 percent from the same time in 2023. Simple assault was down 22 percent from the same time in 2023.

The following crimes also saw a reduction in 2024:

• 37.5 percent reduction in robberies
• 28.6 percent reduction in burglaries
• 22.3 percent reduction in thefts
• 31.6 percent reduction in fraud cases
• 21.6 percent reduction in vandalism

When asked why he believed the city was seeing a reduction in crime across the board, Rigney said it was because the department is very proactive.

“We stay on top of our officers to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing,” Rigney said.

One way the department is able to secure its effectiveness is through a GPS system that was purchased for all of its vehicles in 2023. The system allows the department to track all of its vehicles in an effort to geofence every building, neighborhood and park.

“Every time they drive through one of these areas, it registers that they checked that area, and they have to be very close to it,” Rigney said.

The new system makes it so officers don’t have to manually check in on their computer which speeds up efficiency.

“They’re able to move on and keep going instead of stopping, so they will get more done,” Rigney said.

During 2024, the Alabaster Police Department had an average response time of 3 minutes and 39 seconds compared to a national average of 11 minutes.

As of September 2024, Alabaster Police Department has responded to 1,300 more calls for service than in 2023. Additionally, Continuing Education Units are up 25.5 percent from the same time in 2023 which represents a growth in the amount of times officers have spent in training and in professional development.

The Alabaster Police Department also performed the following during the last fiscal year:

• Increased business checks performed from 19,040 in 2023 to 50,282 in 2024
• Increased neighborhood checks performed from 10,876 in 2023 to 21,559 in 2024
• Responded to 25,890 calls for service in 2024
• Responded to 1,310 traffic accidents

The Alabaster Police Department’s budget is set to increase in 2025 which, according to the city of Alabaster, is primarily the result of capital purchases for additional vehicles and fire range improvements as well as the cost associated with placing that capital in service and maintaining it. The fiscal year 2025 budget for the Alabaster police Department is $12,753,490.

Rigney shared that the department has a number of goals for fiscal year 2025, including a 20 percent reduction in the unlawful breaking and entering of vehicles.

The department has listed the following goals:

• Increase business checks by 1 percent
• Increase training hours by 5 percent
• Increase neighborhood checks by 1 percent

The department also wishes to continue with its policy review to make sure it is up to date with current laws and procedures. Additionally, the APD wishes to enhance its career development program and provide more in-house training and instructor training.

“These goals are all tools in reaching our main objective, which is to lower our crime statistics and provide excellent customer service to our citizens and to those that visit the city of Alabaster,” read Rigney’s presentation.