FBI "08 Crime Stats Down (Chicago?)

[devildog66]

Many localized versions of the same story; interestingly enough Chicago is one major city with a large increase in violent crime and murder.


http://www.freep.com/article/20090602/NEWS05/906020401/1007/NEWS/Michigan+big-city+crime+rate+down

Michigan big-city crime rate down
Drop in Detroit surpasses national average

BY AMBER HUNT • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS • June 2, 2009

Violent crime in Detroit dropped more than 11% in 2008, surpassing a nationwide average 2.5% dip among large cities, based on data released Monday by the FBI.

Sterling Heights, Warren, Lansing and Flint also reported decreases last year in violent crime -- which includes such crimes as murder, forcible rape and armed robbery -- while Ann Arbor remained nearly steady with 2007 and Grand Rapids slightly increased.

The FBI released its preliminary figures based on numbers submitted by nearly 13,000 law-enforcement agencies across the United States.

The data was analyzed nationally and by region, then broken down further for cities with populations of at least 100,000.

Detroit reported fewer murders and property crime -- dropping by 22% and 9%, respectively.

"Public safety is of the utmost importance to those that live, work and entertain here," Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said in a statement Monday. He said he would continue to work with Police Chief James Barren and others to continue this trend.

Warren and Sterling Heights saw the biggest dips in violent crime among Michigan's major cities, falling about 22% each.

"It's a downward trend that hopefully will continue," Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer said of the drop in violent crimes. "I'm not that optimistic we'll be able to continue it in this economy, but we're focusing our efforts."

Sterling Heights Police Chief Michael Reese said he believes the statistics "are a result of the city's commitment to public safety."

While Sterling Heights claimed the data shows it is Michigan's safest large city, the FBI doesn't use the data to rank cities' safety.

"Those numbers are just a snapshot in time," FBI spokesman Stephen Fischer told the Free Press. "They don't provide any insight into variables that impact the city or the country. Sometimes it's like comparing apples to oranges."

Grand Rapids was the only big Michigan city to report an increase in violent crime, climbing from 1,876 reports to 1,981. The city reported five fewer murders, however, dropping from 20 to 15.

Nationally, Chicago had a 15% increase in murders, from 443 to 510; Boston saw a 2.4% decrease in violent crime, and New York City reported 5% fewer murders.

Staff writer Zlati Meyer contributed to this story.

 

[MT GUNNY]

During the Many years that DC had a Gun ban there was also One year that Crime had Dropped, only to increase the Fallowing years

 

[TexasRifleman]

"It's a downward trend that hopefully will continue," Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer said of the drop in violent crimes.

Problem is that when your crime rate drops because people are abandoning your city in droves it might not be something to brag about.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Just shows proof that BG's can't afford or find ammo either.

 

[Tommygunn]

Obviously the gangbangers are having a hard time finding ammunition at the gunstores.

 

[mljdeckard]

Any trend will have blips. A slight reversal for one year doesn't mean a reversal of a trend.

 

[damien]

Problem is that when your crime rate drops because people are abandoning your city in droves it might not be something to brag about

That might affect the total number of crimes committed, but it would probably not affect the rate, unless it was the troublemakers leaving (and this is rarely the case).