Crime Drops Significantly for Second Year in a Row

Ready for some good news? As demonstrated in the Public Safety Department’s annual report, crime statistics have dropped in the City for a second year in a row. Overall, the total number of crimes decreased 22.8% in 2009. This is attributable, in part, to fewer larcenies, frauds, armed robberies, stolen vehicles and domestic violence crimes. In 2008, the total number of crimes reported was 334 which declined to 258 in 2009. Further, index crimes, considered more serious, also declined 18.7% in 2009. The number of index crimes reported to the Department was 105, compared to 129 for the year 2008 and 157 in 2007. This is the second year in a row in which serious crime has dropped 18% or more. The Public Safety Officers that patrol the streets on a daily basis are responsible for a majority of the arrests for crimes perpetrated in the City. Arrests were made in most of the index crime cases.

The Public Safety Officers are also our first response to any fire related incident and in 2009 there were ten calls for residential fires, two of which required mutual aid responses. Both fires were quickly extinguished with minor property damage. The Department continues its community policing efforts working with community groups to focus on safety around schools, the City’s three business districts, by offering car seat inspections, contributing to fire prevention programs and with Officer Raleigh of the canine unit. Public Safety officers and dispatchers continue to be diligent in their efforts to prevent crime and to apprehend criminals who commit crimes in the community.

To read the entire Public Safety Annual Report, click here.