Just as a reckless driver, who took police on a wild car chase on Friday, was being brought into custody, Ellenville Police Chief Phil Mattracion was proudly pointing to the new computer system his department is using as one of several factors in preliminary figures showing that the number of violent crimes in Ellenville for 2007 dropped from the previous year.

In 2007, Part One crimes such as burglaries were down 80% from 2006, with only two arrests. There were only two robberies in 2007, a 60% drop from the previous year. There was one rape, a 50% drop, and no shootings, a 100% drop. There were no murders, a 200% drop from 2006.

�When you look at larcenies, for example, which are Part Two crimes, these are also lower. There is a direct correlation between the number of Part One crimes (violent) and Part Two (non-violent) - such as larcenies, simple trespasses, forgeries, and drug charges. The two go hand in hand.�

Chief Phil Mattracion said the preliminary statistics were due in great part to the department's �proactive approach to law enforcement� with greater emphasis on �sting operations� and being �more visible� to the public.

�We are doing more bike and foot patrols, and have more vehicle coverage to outlying areas in the Village of Ellenville,� explained Mattracion, who described these actions as a deterrent.

He said that, �Ellenville is not a high crime area and when you look at the numbers, you can see the success of our efforts, which we will continue. The Ellenville Police Department, along with the Mayor and Board of Trustees are committed to making Ellenville a more attractive place for homes and businesses.�

In response to a comment made by the Ulster County Undersheriff Frank Faluotico calling Ellenville a high crime area, Mattracion said the comment, �may have been accurate based on previous years, since there was an increase in the crime rate from 2005 to 2006, with two homicides in 2006 versus none in 2005, but these statistics can be misleading, since homicides in 2006 were not random crimes but the result of domestic violence. In fact, all three homicides in the last six years were domestic violence.�

�Ellenville gets mislabeled,� Mattracion continued. �We are not Kingston, Newburgh or Monticello, where there are crimes listed in the newspapers every day.�

Mattracion said he looks at yearly trends to determine the needs for law enforcement.

He called the lower crime rate, �a credit to the people of Ellenville and to the community as a whole. We are not a violent area. You can safely locate your home or business here. Every night, we automatically check all businesses and any home that requests it in the Village of Ellenville.�

Homeowners can sign up at the Ellenville Police Station to have their home checked.

The official annual crime statistics report will be available on January 14.

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