Police: As people stay put, crime rate recedes

Although fears and concerns associated with COVID-19 have been on the rise, the crime rate has been on the decline.

New Bethlehem police Chief Robert Malnofsky Jr. said his department had “an uptick” in police incidents soon after Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all schools closed and then later issued the statewide stay-at-home order.

“The kids had a lot of time on their hands when the schools first closed,” he said. “Then the schools set up online classes and that has helped.”

He said domestics and family-related crime are down “a little bit,” but they remain an area of concern if shelter-in-place becomes prolonged.

Traffic, Malnofsky said, has decreased by about 80% because people are driving only when necessary.

However, he also is concerned about the health of his officers.

“If one of my guys tests positive (for the virus), it could have a major impact on the department,” Malnofsky said. “If all of the guys were in here at one time, like at shift change, it could lead to the closure of the department altogether.

“It is always a risk; this (virus), you can’t see it and that is worst of all.”

Judging by the number of warrants issued, Clarion County Sheriff Rex Munsee said he has seen no increase in crime.

“In some areas, it does seem like we are serving fewer warrants,” he said.

“It is about the same level for Protection From Abuse orders. I serve about one to two a week. Last year we served 90 PFAs. My office serves about 90 percent of the PFAs in the county.”

Munsee said there also are fewer traffic-related arrests, probably because fewer people are driving.

“A woman told me the other day that she is getting three weeks to a gallon of gas,” Munsee said.

Brookville police Chief Vince Markle said retail theft and traffic violations are down in his Jefferson County community.

“On a normal day, our Main Street is parked completely full. Now, it is maybe one-quarter full,” he said. “In the morning when I come to work, there may be one car on the street.”

However, Markle said, domestic incidents are slightly up.

“We are out and about, but the number of contacts is down because everyone is staying put,” he said.

One place in Clarion County that is virtually crime-free is Clarion University.

Jason Hendershot, chief of the university’s police department, said there hasn’t been anything reported since about four days before the students went home.

“Mostly what we are doing is physical security,” he said. “We are keeping an eye on all of the buildings and facilities to make sure everything is secure. That is the biggest thing that we have to do during this time.

“It is a nice thing, but I don’t know if I like the trade-off with having no students on campus. The students are why we are here.”