During comments at the Cape Charles Town Council Regular Meeting, Vice Mayor Chris Bannon accosted an Eastern Shore Post reporter about the methodology being used to report crime in Northampton County. Bannon complained that the Post listed all crimes south of Eastville as having occurred in town, whether they happened in Cheapside or Butlers Bluff, and that it created a false narrative about the safety of Cape Charles. “Please explain to council how the post reports crime. No matter if the offense happens in Cheapside or somewhere south, it lists Cape Charles as the address,” Bannon said.
The Post explained that, as a paper of record, they are required to report addresses accurately (using postal classifications from the court documents) and avoid regional demarcation. At the Cape Charles Mirror, only data provided by the Cape Charles Police Department is reported. However, now realizing that reporting all data, including county crimes is a pet peeve of town council, we may start reporting that also.
See below for only the Town of Cape Charles crime data for the month of November:
-Calls for service in Cape Charles: 65
-Calls for service outside of Cape Charles: 16
-Felony arrests: 0
-Misdemeanor Arrests: 3
-Traffic Summons: 2
-Traffic Warnings: 9 (written& verbal):
-Parking tickets: 0
-Building Checks: 22
-Assisted Northampton County Sheriff’s Office: 15
-Assisted Virginia State Police: 1
-Assisted Federal Agencies: 0
-Assisted Fire& Rescue: 5
-Foot Patrol Hours: 36
-Bay creek patrol hours: 37.5
Traffic Summons
1. Expired inspection sticker
2. Expired rejection sticker
ARRESTS
1. Trespassing
2. Obstruct justice
3. Attempt to flee law enforcement
Mr Bannon is right to point out inconsistencies and fake news as reported by the Eastern Shore Post. Cape Charles is by far one of the safest communities on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Thank you Mr. Bannon for setting the record straight!
I agree with David Gay on this! And I thank our neighbor, Chris Bannon, for standing up for the reputation of our wonderful little town.
So called ‘professional’ journalism has eroded over the years. It’s so much easier to Google and fact check via Snopes while sitting on your butt watching Dr. Phil.
Print media is gasping for air and they wonder why.
Hats off to Chris Bannon.
SNOPES is a democrapic run proprietorship. Dr. Phil? lol TRUMPS A HERO. OBAMAS A DISEASE.
Rape in the park, drug dealing, car break-ins, house burglary, drunk driving, not to mention the theft of tax payer dollars in fraud waste and abuse – no thanks Cape Charles, I’ll take Exmore.