N.Y. Remains FBI’s Safest Big City, Say Bloomberg, Kelly
By TOMMY HALLISSEY — Friday, January 1st, 2010 ‘The Chief / Civil Service Leader’
Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly Dec. 21 announced that New York remains the safest big city in America, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report that covers the first six months of 2009.
The report showed that violent crime decreased by eight percent in the city, outpacing a national decline. Property crime fell by six percent as well.
‘Amazing With Fewer Resources’
“When the economic downturn began, some thought crime could only go up,” Mr. Bloomberg said in a statement. “Instead of listening to the conventional wisdom, our police department has driven crime down again in 2009 just as they did in 2008. They have done amazing work with fewer resources and we are going to keep the pressure on to keep crime low and keep guns out of the hands of criminals.”
According to data included in the FBI report, of the 25 largest cities in the country, New York recorded the lowest Index Crime rate. Of the 253 U.S. cities with populations larger than 100,000, New York’s crime rate ranked 241st, placing it between Sunnyvale, Calif. and Amherst, N.Y.
“The men and women of the Police Department have continued to make the city safe, often while putting their lives at risk,” Mr. Kelly said.
Comparing the first half of 2008 to the first half of 2009, the murder rate dropped 19 percent, nearly twice the nationwide average of a 10-percent decline. All major categories saw declines, including a 16.7 percent drop in rape and a 15.6 percent decline in robbery. The total national index fell 6.6 percent.