Officials: Increase in rape isn’t cause for alarm

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While the Midland Police Department reported a 27 percent increase in reported “forcible rapes,” there is no cause for alarm, according to a former MPD detective and longtime board member of the local rape crisis center.

Kay Therwhanger, who spent 35 years working for MPD, said that none of the 47 rapes reported in 2015 involved strangers, meaning the offender and victims knew each other and that the crimes were not the result of a “mad man.” MPD confirmed the statistic.

“If there was a stranger out there (committing these acts), that would cause horrible alarm,” said Therwhanger, who was a board member of the Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center for two decades. “That is not the case.”

Forcible rape is not like some other crimes and infractions where law enforcement can be more proactive in its prevention. She said it is important to get the message out there that sexual assaults generally happen between people who know each other. She also said the Midland Rape Crisis center has been very aggressive with outreach programs.

According to the crime report, released Friday, the number of forcible rapes increased by 10 from 36 in 2014.

The police department, according to the city of Midland, will continue to educate individuals on ways they can protect themselves from harm. A Rape Aggression Defense class provided by the Midland Police Department, according to the city, “continues to be a popular program and provides realistic self-defense techniques that women can use to protect themselves.” This comprehensive course covers awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. Women can sign up for a future RAD class by calling 432-685-7964.

“The feedback we received from women after taking the class is they really gained a lot from the information they learned,” MPD Chief Price Robinson said Friday.

In the annual crime statistics report for 2015, Part I crimes -- those most likely to be reported and are serious in nature -- increased by 137 offenses, or 3.7 percent.

The report also indicates that in 2015 there were:

-- 315 aggravated assaults, 16 more than in 2014;

-- 656 burglaries, 59 more than in 2014; and

-- 2,544 thefts, 69 more than in 2014;

-- 61 robberies, four less than in 2014;

-- 181 vehicle thefts, 13 less than in 2014;

-- seven murders and manslaughter by negligence, the same as in 2014.

Robinson said MPD will continue its twice-monthly meetings in which officers look at emerging trends and hot spots to address problems before “they become bigger issues.”

“We’re going to continue pushing information to work with the public, to get them information on awareness in (crime) areas,” Robinson said.

Police have worked to increase public interaction with social media pages, Coffee with a Cop and National Night Out. The department also began using nextdoor.com, a site that other law enforcement agencies have used to spread information to particular subdivisions about crime in the area.

“We want to keep the public informed about crime happening in their neighborhood so they can take precautions,” Robinson said.

Category 2014 2015 Percent change Murder & Manslaughter by Negligence 7 7 0 Forcible Rape 36 46 27 Robbery 65 61 -6.15 Aggravated Assault 299 315 5.35 Burglary 597 656 9.88 Theft 2,475 2,544 2.79 Auto Theft 194 181 -6.7 Total Part I Crimes 3,673 3,810 3.7





Cassie Burton contributed to this report.