Crimes in Kinston trending down compared to a year ago

KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) — A new crime report has been released in the City of Kinston Wednesday.

The report shows a significant drop in felonies and misdemeanors for the first half of the year. Officers with the Kinston Police Department said felonies have dropped by 18 percent and misdemeanors by more than 60 percent.

KPD Cheif Keith Goyette said this is due to their policing strategies. This same time in 2023, there were more than 2,000 felonies compared to slightly more than 1,600 this year.

“We try to stop crime before it does take place by being a proactive police department,” Chief Goyette said. He said Crime Stoppers and officials in the community are also helping with the crime decrease.”

“Our district attorney is really putting up the effort to prosecute the cases that we turn to him and her and the district court judges and the superior court judges in our district are, you know, putting those behind bars that need to be,” Chief Goyette said.

While some crimes are down, DWIs are up by 66 percent. “If bad decisions were made and you were not prepared, reach into your phone, call somebody that you know to come get you. Please don’t drive,” KPD Sergeant Brian Biggins said.

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