Politics & Government

Town Council Candidate Will Crocker Voices Support of Barnstable PD

Crocker, who works with inmates at the Bristol County House of Correction, hopes to work with local police to reduce crime in the area.

A week before his campaign kickoff event in Centerville, Will Crocker, Town Council Candidate for Precinct 6 in Barnstable, voiced his support Monday for the Barnstable Police Department in an effort to reduce crime and "eradicate" a threatening illegal drug problem.

"Sadly, we are seeing more and more young people being harmed and destroying their lives because of the ever-increasing drug problem," Crocker said in a statement Monday. "In my work, in the criminal justice system, I see the results first hand every day. I applaud the work of the police department with their community policing programs and the efforts of the street crimes unit."

Barnstable Police Chief Paul MacDonald discussed the recent statistics on police response activity at the Centerville Civic Association’s annual meeting. There, MacDonald related that the police department's 115 officers responded to 54,000 calls, with 1,480 of them being for the most serious "Part I" crimes, according to Crocker's statement Monday.

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"This year the department expects to handle 60,000 calls," MacDonald said in the statement. "Sixty-three percent of calls come from Hyannis and 11 percent from Centerville. Total police calls are up 35 percent over the past five years.

Crocker -- who currently works with inmates at the Bristol County House of Correction, helping the inmates obtain GEDs or High School Diplomas and eventually find jobs -- said public safety is one of his top priorities. 

Find out what's happening in Barnstable-Hyanniswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"To move Barnstable forward, our residents and visitors need to know our communities are safe," Crocker said in his statement. "Should I be elected to serve the people of my hometown, I pledge to continue to support those public safety initiatives and will look for ways to improve enforcement and treatment. Many candidates talk about issues during a campaign. I will do more than talk about crime prevention, I will put the resources behind my pledge."

To view all candidates running for Barnstable Town Council this November, click here.


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