by
Police Chief James Craig
The Detroit Police Department is touting another year of homicide reductions — and going a little overboard in proudly proclaiming the number is at a 50-year low.
The department reports there were 261 criminal homicides last year, down from 267 the year before and down from 303 the year before that. But the half-century claim is a little dubious, as the per-capita total is way up from 1966. At that time, 1.5 people lived in Detroit, making for an average of 14 homicides per 1,000 residents. Now, the city is up to 39 homicides per 1,000 people.
At any rate, the homicide and overall crime numbers represent an improvement from last year. Crime fell in almost every category except rapes and carjackings, Chief James Craig said in a Wednesday afternoon news conference.
All violent crime dropped 2 percent from 2017. Non-fatal shootings fell by 10 percent to 755 and aggravated assaults fell by 3 percent to 10,000.
Overall property crimes also fell. Robberies saw a 13 percent reduction to 2,300 incidents, burglaries fell 10 percent to 7,428, and larcenies fell 3 percent to 13,652.
There were 894 rapes reported, up 28 percent from last year, Craig said, because the department changed the way it classifies sexual assault in late 2017. Carjackings also increased slightly, though the uptick follows a 19 percent decrease two years ago.
DPD strives to protect those who live, work and play in Detroit.
— Detroit Police Dept. (@detroitpolice) January 3, 2019
With the assistance of initiatives like Ceasefire, Detroit Project Green Light and the NPO program, our city continues to see a reduction in crime.
Here is your 2018 Year End Crime Report pic.twitter.com/Nc6UTU7gf1
The improvements come even as the department grapples with low staffing and a retention problem.
Craig attributed the crime reduction to programs like Operation Ceasefire, a partnership with federal and other law enforcement agencies that targets past offenders and connects them with educational and job opportunities. He also believes Project Green Light has helped deter crime at many locations and get more criminals off the street.
The crime stats are down by double digits since shortly after Craig took over the department in 2013. Since 2014, overall violent crime has dropped 14 percent and property crimes fell by 24 percent.
You can watch the full news conference:
