That's interesting. There's also a notiable change in arrests for sexual offences (other) and family offenses around that time. I believe that's when Stephens went from being DA to Superior Court, and was followed by Jim Hardin.
Can a DA or a mayor tell a police department to ignore certain crimes in favor of others? Was the growing crime rate causing an image problem that making fewer arrests would hide?
Good questions. One would think the NandO would be curious...