VIOLENT CRIME DOWN 11 PERCENT AT MID-YEAR MARK

Details: Category: City News; Published on Saturday, 10 July 2010 17:14; Written by from the Mayors Office

MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA
City of Los Angeles
July 9, 2010

MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA, CHIEF BECK REPORT VIOLENT CRIME DOWN 11 PERCENT AT MID-YEAR MARK

Crime continues to drop in Los Angeles for the 8th consecutive year

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today joined Chief Charlie
Beck to report an 11 percent drop in violent crime, as well as
reductions in property crime and gang crime in the city’s 2010
mid-year crime statistics.

“We are experiencing remarkable improvements in crime reduction and
need to look no further than our mid-year crime statistics to see
that,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “For the 8th consecutive year,
crime overall in the City of Los Angeles has dropped. Despite the
economic downturn, our unwavering commitment to public safety has
yielded tangible, positive results.”

At the mid-year mark for 2010, crime is down six percent with total
violent crime down 11 percent and property crime down five percent. The
Mayor and Chief noted a rise in homicides, up four percent from last
year however since 2005, homicides are down nearly 40 percent.

Pledging continued success in crime reduction, the Mayor and Chief
reiterated their commitment to public safety and to maintaining the size
of the police force. They also highlighted the success of more targeted
police strategies, community policing and improved enforcement tactics.

In addition, in the first six months of the year, the City has
experienced a nine percent decrease in gang-related crimes. Gang
related robberies declined by 10 percent, aggravated assault decreased
by eight percent and gang related attacks on police officers are down by
21 percent.

Complementing the City’s police force, the Mayor’s office of Gang
Reduction and Youth Development has targeted gang intervention and
prevention efforts where they are needed most - in the areas of highest
gang crime. This summer, the City will once again keep the lights on at
parks in the most violent plagued neighborhoods and has expanded its
Summer Night Lights program to 24 parks this year.