News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Rory Sherwood, 911 dispatcher at the central dispatch in Alpena, works at his desk on Friday.

ALPENA — For most types of crimes, Northeast Michigan is below the statewide average, but in Alpena County, rape crimes and drug crimes are significantly higher than the statewide average.

The most recent data from the Michigan State Police and Michigan Incident Crime Reporting shows that Northeast Michigan’s crime rates for violent and property crimes are lower than the statewide average overall.

Violent crimes include rape, murder, assault, and robbery, while property crimes include larceny, motor vehicle theft, and burglary.

ALPENA COUNTY

The most recent data shows that Alpena’s rates of violent and property crimes were lower than the statewide average in 2023.

However, rape crimes individually were higher than the statewide average.

According to the data, Alpena County had 32 violent crimes per 10,000 people in 2023. Statewide, the rate was 45 violent crimes per 10,000 people.

When looking at each category individually, rape crimes in Alpena County occurred more frequently than the statewide average.

There were 36 rape crimes in Alpena county in 2023, according to the data. That means there were 12 rape crimes per 10,000 people in Alpena County. The statewide average was about 5.6 crimes per 10,000.

If the county’s average matched the state’s, the number of rape crimes would be closer to 16 instead of 36 in 2023.

Rape involves Michigan Incident Crime Reporting file classes 11001-11006. These include charges for sexual penetration and criminal sexual conduct of the first and third degrees.

Alpena County reported 92 property crimes per 10,000 people. The statewide average was 154 per 10,000.

In addition, the Michigan Incident Crime Reporting statistics show that Alpena County’s drug crime rates are higher than the state average in the violation of controlled substances and the narcotics equipment violations categories, which are file classes 35001 and 35002.

Alpena County law enforcement reported 120 violations of controlled substance crimes and 30 narcotics equipment violation crimes. Added up, that makes 150 drug crimes and 52 drug crimes per 10,000 people.

The statewide average is 25 drug crimes per 10,000 people, which means that Alpena’s drug crime rates were twice as high as the statewide average in 2023.

ALCONA COUNTY

In Alcona County, the violent crime rate in 2023 was 11 crimes per 10,000 people.

The crime rate for rape was nearly three per 10,000 people.

The property crime rate was 58 crimes per 10,000.

MONTMORENCY COUNTY

In Montmorency County, the violent crime rate in 2023 was 11 per 10,000 people.

The crime rate for rape was slightly higher than the statewide average at six per 10,000 people.

The property crime rate was 23 crimes per 10,000 people.

PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY

The violent crime rate in Presque Isle County in 2023 was nearly seven per 10,000 people.

The rate of rape crimes was three per 10,000 people.

The property crime rates were at 20 crimes per 10,000 people.

Data from 2024 is still being compiled and finalized, and official stats won’t be released until later this year.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.