by Kiesa Kay

The Landrum Police Department in December 2013 received a grant to pay for bulletproof vests. Officials also have written a grant for a technology upgrade, according to Chief Tim Edgens.

The current technology still utilizes VHS tapes, which degrade, and since it can take a few years for a case to get to court, evidence preservation will benefit from this technology upgrade.

In other reports, the police department worked 28 traffic citations and four traffic arrests in December 2013. Officers arrested suspects for DUS (driving under suspension), no driver’s license and operating an uninsured vehicle. Ten of the 28 tickets issued were for speeding. Officers also issued 74 warning citations.

During December, police actively pursued seven criminal investigations, including three for malicious damage, one for recovery of stolen property and three of theft from motor vehicle. Officers completed three accident reports, two funeral escorts and served five warrants.

The department issued 18 criminal citations and made 14 criminal arrests. The arrests included three for assault and battery, three for open container, three for possession of drug paraphernalia and two for marijuana.

New law enforcement software shows that burglary and theft crimes have gone down in Landrum, but arrests for shoplifting and drug crimes have experienced an increase.

“The increase in drug arrests does not mean that there are more drugs in the city,” said Caitlin Martin, city administrator. “It means that we are finding them more often.”