Barrington saw a 278 percent increase in the number of DUI arrests last year. 

According to year-end statistics from the Barrington Police Department, the number of arrests for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol went from nine in 2022, to 34 in 2023. 

Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia said part of the increase is due to better staffing levels in the department and more officers out on patrol. 

“It gives us the ability to proactively patrol the community,” Chief Correia said. “I think it’s staffing. It’s the presence of policemen in the community.”

In previous years, Barrington had struggled to reach full-staffing levels, Chief Correia said. There was less of an appetite in picking up federally-funded overtime shifts, he added. 

But that has changed. 

The additional officers on patrol have yielded results, Chief Correia said. 

“I think it’s directly related to staffing.”

A closer look at the DUI arrests for 2023 shows that about half of the people charged were Barrington residents. Most of the arrests took place in the summer and fall. 

The police department is also focused on traffic safety, said the chief. But despite the effort, Barrington roadways fall victim to the same types of tragedies as the rest of the country. 

On Saturday, Jan. 22, a car crashed into the woods on the Wampanoag Trail, killing a man from Pawtucket and a woman from Providence. Speed was a factor, police said.

In a press release, police stated that the department issued 208 speeding violations and 367 verbal warnings for speeding on the Wampanoag Trail between June 2023 and Dec. 2023. 

Chief Correia said the department will be adding an additional speed patrol on the Trail. 

Other increases

In addition to the increase in DUI arrests last year, Barrington Police also witnessed a jump in shoplifting charges. 

In 2022, police made one shoplifting arrest. In 2023, that number increased to eight. 

There were more incidents for extortion/blackmail (from six in 2022 to nine in 2023) and burglary/breaking and entering (from 13 in 2022 to 16 in 2023).

Chief Correia offered some further information about the increase in burglaries — he said some of the cases share similarities and may be related. He said law enforcement agencies in other communities have seen similar cases to the ones in Barrington. 

Decreases

The year-end crime statistics also showed a decrease in certain categories. Aggravated assault incidents were down 75 percent (from four in 2022 to one in 2023). Larcenies from motor vehicles also dropped last year (from 10 in 2022 to six in 2023). 

Drug/narcotic violations decreased by 24 percent (from 17 in 2022 to 13in 2023). And motor vehicle thefts dropped by 50 percent (from six in 2022 to three in 2023).

Continued focus

Chief Correia said the department will increase its outreach on combatting cyber crimes, especially with the town’s older residents. He expects that there will be events at the senior center to educate and inform residents.

“I think that could help in the long run,” Chief Correia said. 

The chief also said Barrington Police will continue its work to curb underage drinking in town. He said that focus has been a priority for previous police chiefs and will continue under his leadership.