The Fort Walton Beach Police Department is now using crime mapping to share details with the community about crimes committed in the City.
Members of the community can see reported crimes and other police activity within the City limits by going to www.fwb.org/crimemap. This crime map is also used by the Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Panama City Police Department.
Along with crime details, the map displays traffic stops, vehicle crashes and registered sex offender information. According to city staff, community members can provide secure and private crime tips directly to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department using the crime map website.
“Our department holds itself to a very high standard of accountability. We see this as an additional step toward transparency and being great for citizen engagement,” said Fort Walton Beach Police Chief Robert Bage. “It is important that our citizens know what is happening around them. This crime mapping tool provides a current look at incidents in our community that can be used to make informed decisions and draw fact-based conclusions.”
In 2019, part one crimes, which includes murder, manslaughter, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and arson, within the City limits of Fort Walton Beach were down 24 percent from 2018.
Officer “use of force incidents” were down 69 percent and juvenile arrests were down nearly 30 percent. During the same time, public initiated calls for service went up by almost 5 percent and the number traffic crashes remained steady, according to the FWBPD.
“I am proud of the progress our officers have made over the last couple of years. Our crime rate is low and continues to improve,” added Bage. “This map provides a great opportunity to not only inform our community, but to also dispel misconceptions about crime in Fort Walton Beach. Our citizens are safe and should feel safe.”
