The city of Hutto experienced an overall drop in crime in 2018, including decreases in the number of assault and sexual assault cases, according a report presented by Hutto Police Department Chief Byron Frankland.

Overall calls for service dropped by 3 percent in Hutto despite a rising population, according to the report. In 2018, HPD fielded 29,587 calls for service, down from 30,595 in 2017.

Similarly, the total number of citations filed by HPD dropped 31 percent in 2018, down to 2,215.

"Something we’ve always been focused on is having our guys in the neighborhoods," Frankland told Hutto City Council at its Feb. 21 meeting.

Two types of violent crime—assault and sexual assault—fell in Hutto in 2018. Assault dropped by 30 percent, down to 91 cases, and one less sexual assault case was filed in 2018, down to 12 cases.

Burglary, robbery and aggravated assault all slightly rose in 2018 in Hutto. Two robberies were reported in 2018, up from zero the year prior. Aggravated assault and burglary rose by two and three cases, respectively, in 2018.

Drug offenses also fell in Hutto in 2018, down to 160 from 194 a year ago.

According to Frankland’s report, HPD issued 60 felony warrants in 2018, which represents a sharp uptick from 2017. In 2017, HPD issued 29 felony warrants.

Frankland told council members that HPD had a clearance rate of approximately 92 percent in 2018.

Clearance rate, as defined by the FBI, is calculated as law agencies “closing” criminal offenses by arrest or exceptional means.

Nationwide, clearance rates range from 61.6 percent for murder cases to 29.7 percent for robbery cases, according to FBI statistics.

In January, the city of Hutto was ranked the second-safest city in Texas by The Home Security Advisor, an online resource for home security and safety information.