LAPD Highlights Drop In Crime Rates For 11th Straight Year
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Crime rates are down across the city of Los Angeles and murders citywide are at their lowest level since 1966, Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced Monday.
In 2013, the total number of citywide Part 1 crimes - which include homicide, rape, burglary and other crimes - was down 5.2 percent to 100,521, according to Garcetti's office.
LAPD Highlights Drop In Crime Rates For 11th Straight Year
Citywide violent crime also fell about 12 percent, while gang crime dropped 17.6 percent, officials said.
"Despite millions more people and a very changed world, it's an incredible testament to the officers of the LAPD and the people of Los Angeles that crime is down to 1950s levels," Garcetti said. "It's because of a commitment to fight gangs, smart and data-driven policing, intervention and prevention, and because LAPD now works with communities, not against them."
Steve Soboroff, president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO he credits a step-up in community outreach in some areas of L.A. that have been the stubborn hold outs with higher crime rates.
"We have got community police advisory boards, we have booster, they're opening little libraries in police stations," Soboroff said. "All of this helps."
In addition to crime stats, Garcetti also announced the appointment of Eileen Decker as permanent Deputy Mayor for Homeland Security and Public Safety, according to officials.
