ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCSC) – Various Isle of Palms communities are getting a breakdown of crime in the neighborhoods from the past year.

The Isle of Palms Police Department is holding their second community meeting of their annual three-part series. The second meeting focuses on business owners and residents associated with business properties.

Officials and the business community will come together at 3 p.m. Thursday. It will be held at the Public Safety Building located at 30 JC Long Boulevard.

Isle of Palms Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Matt Storen says the goal of the meetings is for anyone attending to have the opportunity to ask the necessary questions. He says a variety of officials will be available to teach residents about crime in the community.

Residents are learning drug-related offenses and driving under the influence charges are already higher this year than last year. The department’s monthly report shows 103 DUI’s as of October in comparison to 86 DUI charges in 2023.

Another rising concern for the department is resisting arrest and assault on police officer charges. Storen says 19 charges occurred this year. That number is up compared to the 12 charges last year.

Officials say certain crimes like assault and larceny are on the decline. The monthly report identifies 10 assault charges this year compared to 13 last year.

The annual community meeting series aims to help address these concerns with residents in an open discussion.

“Anytime we have an assault or any crime in a community it’s concerning,” Storen says. “We constantly are looking at our statistics throughout the year. We’re meeting with department command staff to address any rise or increase.”

Guests will also learn about preventive measures. Storen says business owners can call the department for any security help necessary.

“If it’s a concern of security systems or cameras or anything we can see that needs to be done for their business to make it more safe or more secure, we’d be happy to talk to them and we encourage them to come to the meeting.”

While the meeting is geared to business owners, anyone interested in attending can participate. The final meeting is for the Wild Dunes Community Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Residents will meet at the Wild Dunes Palmetto Hall.

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