By Aaron C. Davis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 31, 2008 2:50 PM

Assistant chief Roberto Hylton will take over the Prince George's County police department when outgoing chief Melvin C. High steps down next month.

County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) announced the move today as officials unveiled crime statistics for the first half of 2008 that point to a near 8 percent overall decline in violent crime from this time a year ago. The overall number is down despite a 20-percent spike in rapes and 9-percent uptick in carjackings, High said.

Homicides also are down: 75 this year, compared to 81 at this point a year ago, High said.

High who yesterday told his command staff of his intentions to retire on Aug. 31, made his announcement public today and received a standing ovation. He was roundly praised by Johnson and county Public Safety Director Vernon R. Herron for overseeing four consecutive years of overall declines in violent crimes, even as the number of homicides in the county seesawed during his tenure, reaching a record 173 in 2005. The county recorded 136 killings in 2006, and 144 last year.

In releasing the latest statistics, High said he was leaving his successor with a safer county, and better-equipped police department than at any time in the county's history.

The statistics, however, along with several recent high-profile cases, have highlighted the challenges facing Hylton, 50.

The county is dealing with a surge in the number of rapes -- 102 so far this year, compared to 85 at this time a year ago. High said most rapes in the county occur between men and women who know each other and the department needs to help educate and prevent the attacks.

Carjackings are also up and homicides among Latinos account for a higher percentage of killings this year in Prince George's than ever before. With the economy foundering, High said the county also is experiencing a rise in property crimes. There have been 3,473 burglaries in the county so far, up 10 percent from this time last year.

The department also is still investigating an incident last week in which an off-duty officer assigned to drive Johnson shot and killed an armed robbery suspect near 4 a.m. in Forestville.

Johnson and Herron said they will conduct a broad search for High's replacement, but both said they believe there are strong internal candidates capable of becoming the next chief.

Hylton, a Panama native who speaks fluent Spanish, is considered a contender for the permanent post in part because of efforts to improve relations with the county's growing Latino community. He's a former commander of police district 1, headquartered in Hyattsville, and has served as assistant chief in charge of all patrol divisions since 2006.