By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Police Department responded to 2,520 incidents and made 502 arrests between July 1 and Sept. 30 this year.

Police Chief Mark Murray described the quarter as a busy one for the department.

He said the number of incidents was up by 621 from the same period in 2016.

Murray presented those and other statistics in his quarterly report to village trustees at their meeting Nov. 20.

• There were five felony arrests, 47 misdemeanor arrests, and 31 violations.

• Most of the arrests -- 374 -- were for vehicle and traffic offenses.

• Twenty-seven domestic incident complaints were received.

• There were 71 responses to reported disorderly conduct incidents, 20 calls to reported assaults, and five reported sexual offenses.

Murray said traffic stops were up significantly due to “more proactive patrols.”

He said cases of aggravated unlicensed operation, frequently due to suspended licenses, were up.

During the quarter, a state Department of Motor Vehicles investigation unit conducted a look into the use of false driving licenses or someone else’s license by underage people attempting to purchase alcohol or gain entry to bars.

Murray also made note of an uptick in mental health responses: 15 for suicide attempts, reported suicidal thoughts, or suicidal behavior, and 10 mental health transports to Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center’s mental health unit.

He said he would like to get more training on mental health issues for his officers.