Baltimore Officials Pleased With Lower Crime Stats
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The mayor and Baltimore City police commissioner say they have made good on a year-long promise to reduce crime across the city and build better relationships between police and the community they serve and they have numbers to prove their strategic plan is working.
Rochelle Ritchie has the details on what's been done and what else is needed.
The mayor and police commissioner are pleased with the numbers but not completely satisfied. The statistics reflect a year of success of implementing a plan that helps to protect and serve the residents in Baltimore City.
This year, the Baltimore City police department has been scrutinized for the number of officers caught on camera in violent attacks of city residents and, after a scathing report from our media partners at the Baltimore Sun, showed city taxpayers shelled out nearly $12 million to hundreds of victims of police brutality.
Despite these reports, the police department says progress has been made over the past two years with complaints of excessive force down to 66 this year, compared to 122 in 2012.
"What you're seeing today is a focus on training, a focus on the types of community policing that will not only allow us to see a reduction in violence but an improvement in the city, as well," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
Violent crime across the city is down, according to Baltimore City's top cop. This time last year, there were 218 murders, compared to 200 now.
"Homicides have been reduced but not even close to the level that I expect," said Anthony Batts.
New numbers released Monday show a reduction in crime and an increase in the arrest rate of repeat violent offenders. Batts credits the community with getting repeat offenders off the streets and says tips into Crime Stoppers has increased 300%.
The decrease in violent and minor offenses are a result of a strategic plan laid out by the mayor and police commissioner to reform and modernize the Baltimore City police department.
The plan involves increasing foot patrols, training personnel to use less lethal force and appoint members to review the use of excessive force.
The commissioner says the city is halfway through completing all of its goals but says the buck doesn't stop there.
"We have a long way to go. I know there are people who don't believe they are safe in our city but we will change that," Batts said.
The commissioner says technology plays a large role in better policing and admits the city's equipment is outdated. However, next year, a new system will be put in to use when it comes to deploying officers.
The city says it has also seen a reduction in the number of complaints filed against the department.
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