crime

Many types of violent crimes and property crimes are increasing in Reno. That's according to an annual report released by the Reno Police Department this week. Our contributor Bob Conrad of ThisisReno has the story.

From 2013 to 2015, the number of robberies and assaults increased, and reported rapes nearly doubled. There were 70 rapes were reported in 2013 and 136 were documented last year. During that time, the homicide rate has remained steady. 

Gangs in Washoe County have multiplied, growing their ranks by 30 percent in a decade. Reno Public Radio's Rocio Hernandez explores what's being done to curb their influence.  

Instead of hanging out with friends after school, 15-year-old Julio travels from Sparks to northeast Reno to practice his boxing. He was introduced to the sport by a friend and has been hooked ever since. Julio says the sport not only keeps him out of trouble but gives him a goal in life. He thinks that might be what separates him from some of his peers.

A Reno doctor and other defendants in an alleged drug ring have been formally charged. Reno Public Radio’s Marcus Lavergne has more.

Daniel Bogden, U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada announced the indictment of Reno doctor Robert Rand and eight others on felony drug conspiracy and other charges. Wednesday, he told reporters it’s a sign of progress in Nevada’s battle against a serious drug abuse problem. 

  The city has released a new mobile app aimed at making it easier for the community to report and track crimes. Reno Public Radio's Julia Ritchey reports.

Called myRPD, the new app is meant to boost community policing by making it easier for regular citizens to report crimes. 

"It puts it all in one place, makes it really easy to access and it gets our community to engage with their police department," says Reno Interim Police Chief Jason Soto. 

Fatal Encounters is a growing database of information about people killed during their interactions with law enforcement agencies across the country.

The project has gained international attention and been used by reporters at The Guardian, The Washington Post, and other major media outlets.

It’s the brainchild of Brian Burghart, publisher for the Reno News & Review, who joined our News Director Michelle Bliss to give the latest update on his work. 

The Reno City Attorney’s office is taking new steps to curb domestic violence, under a plan recently approved by the Reno City Council. Reno Public Radio's Esther Ciammachilli has more.

When running for City Attorney last year, Karl Hall told KUNR this would be one of his top priorities:

"I'm going to devote additional resources to the criminal division, specifically the domestic violence issue, to protect our domestic violence victims."

A district attorney in Northern Nevada says medical marijuana poses a new threat to public safety. Reno Public Radio’s Michelle Bliss reports it’s at the top of the list for Washoe County at an upcoming summit hosted by the state’s attorney general.

Sheriffs, chiefs and district attorneys from across the state will come together at the event in early February to collaborate on ways to make their communities safer.

Washoe County District Attorney Christopher Hicks will share what he’s learned from other states about the public safety issues caused by marijuana.

Setting up a statewide data system to track domestic violence offenses is one of several recommendations just released from a committee spearheaded by Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports the group suggests that data go hand-in-hand with more specialized training for first responders working with victims. 

In a report released Tuesday, Reno Police say that the gunman who opened fire in a medical office on the Renown Regional Medical Center campus last year was suffering from depression at the time of the attack. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports.

The document, which totals more than a thousand pages, provides details on gunman Alan Frazier's mental state leading up to the shooting. During that time period Frazier alleged that a doctor for Urology Nevada had given him a botched vasectomy.