Though Fairburn's population has doubled in the past five years, current statistics for 2005 show decreases in felony crimes and traffic accidents and an increase in arrests. Paving the way for the new accountability policing model, monthly figures show that recent developments joining citizens and elected officials to draw a line in the sand against crime is already making its mark.

"We want to make these statistics public to let people know what's going on," said Chief Charles Long, citing figures that few cities publicly divulge. "Accountability policing is heavy on customer service. And customers have a right to know the facts, regardless what those facts may be."

Statistics for March showed a 15 percent overall increase in index crimes over March 2004 figures. Year-to-date figures through March 2005 revealed an eight percent decrease for a total of 133 charges for the period compared to 145 for the same period in 2004. Index crimes include felonies such as burglary, theft, auto theft, aggravated assault, robbery, murder and rape.

Traffic accidents in March in the city's top seven profile areas decreased 29 percent over March 2004 while the year-to-date figures for 2005 represent a 20 percent decrease. In the third category, arrests in March were up 32 percent over a year ago while the 2005 year-to-date figures showed an overall increase in arrests of 11 percent.

Statistics for April also showed overall decreases in index crimes and traffic accidents and an increase in arrests. Index crimes for April showed a 15 percent increase over April 2004, yet April year-to-date figures showed an 10 percent decrease. Year-to-date figures through April showed 179 charges filed compared to 199 for the same period in 2004.

Traffic accidents in April for the city's top seven profile areas decreased five percent over April 2004. Year-to-date figures through April showed a 15 percent decrease over the same period in 2004. A total of 50 arrests in April accounted for a 56 percent increase over the 32 arrests in April 2004. Arrests year-to-date through April revealed 186 charges filed compared to 155 arrests for the same period in 2004.

Citing an increase in auto thefts in March and April over the same months in 2004, Long advised residents to refrain from leaving keys inside vehicles. Doing so provides thieves with the opportunity to steal, he said. A relevant factor in the changing landscape in Fairburn, one that adds to risk of vehicle and property theft is the city's dramatic increase in population. City administrator Jim Williams announced last month that the city's population had increased to more than 10,000 residents, effectively doubling Fairburn's population since the 2000 census.

Conceived by Long and approved by the city council at his recommendation earlier this year, accountability policing will be phased in beginning in summer. The new system represents both a structural and a philosophical shift in law enforcement's mission, Long said. It is one that emphasizes officer accountability through team-oriented proactive policing rather than shift-oriented reactive policing, he added.

"Most police departments operate reactively," Long said. "But we want the long-range goal to be proactive. We want it to impact crime and the fear of crime. Everything we do needs to be deliberate, not random, not reactive."

Fairburn police began publishing monthly crime statistics in January, less than three months after Chief Charles Long was hired. Long said Wednesday that his department adopted the procedure of publicizing crime statistics as a part of the department's new accountability policing initiative, now under development.