Madison Police Chief Noble Wray met with members of the city’s Common Council Wednesday in an effort to create an increased partnership in issues regarding public safety.

Wray highlighted a variety of ups and downs in Madison’s crime statistics for 2007. While overall crime increased 5.5 percent, violent crimes including rape, murder and aggravated assault decreased 14.2 percent. One crime trend contributing to the overall increase is the 8.3 percent increase in property crimes like burglary, theft and arson.

Wray said police are acting quickly to combat the property crime problem. One such initiative that has proven successful is the burglary task force known as “Blue Net.” Noting an increase in the theft of precious metals such as copper, Wray and council members discussed how to resolve the problem.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, pointed out that legislation could be instrumental in decreasing the number of property crimes, which Wray said are connected to gang involvement and drug use. Verveer said a pawn shop ordinance that expanded in the late 1990s to include CDs and DVDs and the recently passed textbook ordinance help prevent thieves looking for cash from profiting off stolen items, particularly in student neighborhoods.

Wray agreed that legislation is a powerful approach to fighting the problem and noted coordination of city officials as a stepping stone to a solution.

“This is something that we desperately need to have happen,” he said of reducing burglaries and thefts in Madison.

With less than three months to city budget talks, Wray also said he wanted the meeting to create a dialogue between police and council members about the utilization of 30 new officers added this year. In February 2009, 16 of the new officers will hit the streets upon graduation. Wray said many of the new officers will work in the field to increase beat patrols in each of the five police districts.