ISLE OF PALMS, SC (WCSC) – Various Isle of Palms communities are getting a breakdown of neighborhood crime over the past year.

The Isle of Palms Police Department is holding the second community meeting in their annual three-part series. The second meeting focuses on business owners and residents associated with commercial properties.

Officials and the business community will meet on Thursday at 3 p.m. It will be held at the Public Safety Building located at 30 JC Long Boulevard.

Isle of Palms Police Department spokesman Sergeant Matt Storen says the purpose of the meetings is for anyone who attends to have an opportunity to ask the necessary questions. He says a variety of officials will be on hand to teach residents about crime in the community.

Residents are learning drug-related crimes and DUI charges are already higher this year than last year. The the department’s monthly report shows 103 DUIs in October compared to 86 DUI charges in 2023.

Another growing concern for the department is resisting arrest and assault on a police officer charges. Storen says there have been 19 charges this year. This number is up from last year’s 12 charges.

Officials say certain crimes such as assault and theft are on the decline. The monthly report identifies 10 allegations of assault this year, compared to 13 last year.

The annual series of community meetings aims to help address these concerns with residents in open discussion.

“Anytime we have an attack or any crime in a community it’s concerning,” Storen says. “We’re constantly looking at our stats throughout the year. We are meeting with the department’s command staff to address any escalation or escalation.”

Guests will also learn about preventive measures. Storen says business owners can call the department for any security help they need.

“If it’s a concern about security systems or cameras or anything else that we can see that needs to be done to make their business safer or more secure, we’d be happy to talk to them and encourage them to come to meet. .”

Although the meeting is aimed at business owners, anyone interested in participating is welcome to attend. The final meeting is for the Wild Dunes Community on November 13 at 5:30 p.m. Residents will meet at the Palmetto Hall in the Wild Dunes.

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