Turner tells me that the LMPD Command staff meets every Thursday to review the latest numbers. They typically will use the previous two months to detect trends in crime (and where crime is decreasing).

"We like to think it keeps us on target," Turner said.

One benchmark they use is the previous year's crime rate. In the first quarter of 2007, property and violent crime are down a combined seven percent compared to that same time period last year. Metro Louisville has the same number of homicides now as this time last year, but Turner says Louisville has not experienced the national trend of a rise in violent crime.

Turner oversees patrol officers, the police often first on the scene. Each month, LMPD assembles a deployment schedule. "We put our people where the problem is," Turner added, saying the numbers might also trigger a change in tactics.

What Col. Turner stressed the most, however, is the need to localize police strategy as much as possible. Metro-wide statistics are useful, but division numbers are better. One size does not fit all.

"We have to stay focused on neighborhood problems," Turner explained, "we try to break it down into the smallest areas we can."

For instance, of concern in 2007 are residential burglaries in Old Louisville, which Turner says is complicated by a high percentage of rental property, thefts from autos in several subdivisions off Shelbyville Road, and both of those crimes in a relatively small area off Preston Highway in Okolona.

When there is more than one problem, police seek any relationships between them.

LMPD might look to its Third Division to see what's working. Violent and property crime are down an amazing 14 percent compared to last year in that division in Southwest Louisville.

Meanwhile, auto thefts which experienced a 19 percent spike last year, are down metro-wide in the first quarter of 2007.

Please let me know where you want CrimeTracker to investigate! joe.arnold@whas11.com.