Child abuse/neglect cases up in Marshall in 2006

According to the Marshall Police Department's 2006 annual report, the child abuse/neglect investigations more than doubled from 2005 and the violent crimes almost tripled.

The child abuse/neglect investigations include child abuse, child neglect, endangering the welfare of a child and child molestation cases.

Police Chief James Simmerman said there has been no change in the law, just more cases are being reported.

"I think there are more mandated reports through the hotline," Simmerman said. People outside of the family, such as teachers, may see bruises on a child and report it through the hotline, which triggers an investigation.

In 2005, the MPD investigated 10 violent crimes, which included one forcible rape, one robbery and eight aggravated assaults. In 2006, they dealt with 29 violent crimes. Three Marshall residents, Steve Ford and Richard and Jessie Shepard, were murdered in 2006. Other violent crimes includes five forcible rapes, one robbery and 20 aggravated assaults.

Simmerman said the aggravated assault number has changed due to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program's new definition:

"UCR defines aggravated assault as an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. The program further specifies that this type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by other means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. Attempted aggravated assault that involves the display of -- or threat to use -- a gun, knife, or other weapon is included in the crime category because serious personal injury would likely result if the assault were completed.

"When aggravated assault and larceny-theft occur together, the offense falls under the category of robbery."

"It is important to remember that crime is a social problem and a concern to the entire community," Simmerman said. "Efforts of law enforcement are limited to factors within its control."

According to the UCR statistics of the nation's average crime, Marshall's population would have about 35 aggravated assaults.

Simmerman said crime triggers the increase in the assault statistics. He added Marshall is at about half the national average for a city of its size.

Police officers responded to 8,276 calls for service in 2006, which is an 18 percent increase from 2005. They arrested 40 persons for drug law violations -- which is a decrease of 7 percent from 2005.

Contact Rachel Harper at

marshallcity@socket.net