Despite the amount of homicides staying the same and property crime rising 3%, violent crimes continue to drop in SF, announced the SFPD and Mayor Ed Lee in a press release.
According to the release:
Homicides were at their second lowest annual rate of any year in San Francisco since the 1960s again in 2011.
In 2011, total violent crime in San Francisco was down six percent from 2010 and shows a reduction of 18 percent compared to 2008:
·Homicide showed no statistical change; there were 50 homicides in both 2011 and 2010;
·Aggravated Assault is down nine percent in 2011 from 2010;
·Robbery is down two percent in 2011 from 2010;
·Rape is down 12 percent in 2011 from 2010; and
·Burglary is down five percent in 2011 from 2010.
In 2011, total property crime in San Francisco was up three percent from 2010.
As the Ex reports, this property crime rate is from “a large number of thefts, especially of personal electronic devices and items left in clear view in cars.”
KCBS reports that some members of the SFPD believe that an improved relationship with the community is a factor in the violent crimes drop.
Deputy Chief of Operations Kevin Cashman said “We’re seeing more and more people…involved in the community willing to come forward…if not overtly tell us what happened in a public forum, at least they do it covertly and let us know what direction we may want to investigate.”
The SFBG spoke with SFPD Chief Suhr, who indicated that this community involvement was also bolstered by the oft-controversial policing technique of foot patrols, saying “When we talk about increasing community involvement, that definitely includes foot patrols.”
According to the AP, the stats announced by the Mayor’s office and SFPD reflect a national trend, saying that “preliminary FBI crime figures for the first half of 2011 show violent crime dropping across America.”
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