For years now the crime rate in West Chester has been going down. Yet, if you are doing research before interviewing West Chester’s new police chief you are going to quickly learn that it’s still not very good. At least not according to crime aggregate site analysis. CrimeGrade.org gives us a “D-”. 

“The crime rate in West Chester is considerably higher than the national average,” states Neighborhood Scout. “Although at 17 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate.” Well, I guess that’s good. 

However, as a resident and a mom with three young kids – some of whom have been found roaming the neighborhood – living here doesn’t feel like those sites would suggest. So, I bring the site statistics up to West Chester Police Chief Joshua Lee.

Is West Chester a safe place to live? I ask. 

“Absolutely. We are in the best place,” he says reassuringly. We are sitting with PIO Dave March in the Chief’s immaculate – and recently redecorated – corner office. He has his wife to thank for the softening touches. 

A case of high Part II crimes

Crime numbers are high because, as Chief Lee puts it, we are in a “very unique area.” West Chester is one of only a few places in the county that even approaches an urban area. Then, tack on our vibrant downtown, events, and a sizable university, and we are quickly a much bigger municipality than our official census count of 18,631 would suggest. You then have to take into consideration what accounts for those numbers. Of the 1500-plus crimes reported in 2023, roughly 75 percent of them were Part II or nuisance crimes like public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, both of which saw an increase last year. 

“It’s much more less serious crimes than in other areas,” explains Chief Lee. “But when those terrible things do happen we do an excellent job of investigating and clearing,” he says. (Editor’s note: clearing is police speak for solving the case. In February, West Chester cleared 75 percent of its cases. That is high, even for the WCPD which according to Chief Lee clears on average between 60 and 65 percent of its cases. For perspective, in 2022, the national clearance rate for violent crimes was 36.7 percent; 12 percent for property crimes.)

It’s a success rate that can serve as a deterrent, especially for those outside the area eyeing an easy target in a wealthy county. “We are a destination. Everyone wants a piece of West Chester. We can do as much as we can to be a destination but we want to do that safely,” says Chief Lee. 

That goes for the Open Air Market, the festivals, races, and events. “Our goal,” he says, “is always how can we do it as safely as possible.”

Staying the course

After 26 years on the force, Sgt. Lee accepted the position of Chief in December and assumed the duties and physical office in January. He now sits behind the desk used by his predecessors James Morehead and Scott Bonn.

“It’s been the same desk for 20-plus years,” he says.  

As a longtime force insider and, one suspects, in-putter into the current policing strategy, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the new chief doesn’t have any major overhauls planned. “The ship is pointing in the right direction. There are no big changes in the works, but I do plan on “enhancing” some things if that is the right word,” he says. 

It may be his first official interview as Chief of Police but his words, or at least his messages, are clear, so I am guessing the intent is the right one.  

A few minutes later, a potential “enhancement” comes to light. It is around communication – specifically crime status updates from the police to the residents. We were discussing the spree of burglaries that plagued the southwest quadrant of the Borough last fall. 

“I think what sets people uneasy is when they just don’t think something is happening,” he says. It’s an astute observation and challenge for the department as it seeks to balance transparency and the constraints of police work. “Sometimes we have to keep secrets when we are investigating,” says Chief Lee. However, that unease seems to find solace among the company of neighbors on community sites and Facebook pages where information is not always based on the full truth.

“One of the things we will improve is our foundation for communicating,” he says. However no news, Chief Lee stresses, doesn’t mean, no action. “That’s just never happening,” he says. 

Action – from the official to the organic – seems to be a bit of a theme for the department, especially of its 44 officers. 

“I encourage our officers to get out. Eat lunch downtown or grab a coffee,”  he says.  “I don’t want an officer stuck in a car or at the station. I mean it when I say, we really want to be the best we can be. We need to hear from the community when we do it right and when we can do it better.” 

Resource officers

Last year, West Chester and Westown/East Goshen, joined West Goshen and the West Chester Area School District in expanding the resource officer program to all three district high schools. Since January of last year, a West Chester police officer has had an office in Henderson High School. So far the program has proven a success. 

“It’s a great example of what we do,” says Chief Lee. “We have the right person in the position and the students have received it very well.” 

“I would love for it to expand. I would love to have an officer in every school that wants one,” he says.   

These actions, or interactions, are clearly important to Chief Lee and vital to community policing, at which West Chester is among the best.

“I couldn’t ask for a better partnership,” he says. The phrase comes easy and you can tell he’s not consulting notes or even speaking from his last two months as chief. It comes from the 20-plus years he spent out on the street chatting with residents, taking statements, liaising with community groups, and listening to concerns. And probably even before that, when as the son of a West Chester University professor he would come to town and campus with his father. 

“By and large, as a community we really have each other’s best interests at heart,” he says. “It’s not how it is everywhere else, but maybe they can learn something from us.” 

I think in the end, that is it: a bunch of neighbors who have each other’s backs. That is what explains the discrepancy between what the crime numbers say and how the crime numbers feel.

A big thank you to Chief Lee for his time. This week – and the last 26 years – West Chester’s safety, it seems, is in capable hands. 

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This story was originally published on Mar. 15, 2024

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