Overall Major Crime Falls for 4th Consecutive Year
Chief Ronal Serpas today announced that overall major crime in Nashville fell for the fourth consecutive year during 2007 to the lowest level in 17 years. Last year’s major crime total was 2.1% below that of 2006 with five of the seven major crime reporting categories reflecting reductions.
Homicide last year declined 9.9% to its lowest level since 2004; Burglary declined 5.4% to its lowest level since 1968; Auto Theft declined 8.6% to its lowest level since 1989; Aggravated Assault declined 1.2% to its lowest level since 1998; and larceny declined 1.3% to its lowest level since 1991.
Rape last year increased by six cases (1.8%). Robbery increased by 82 cases (3.3%).
The 2007 overall crime rate, which is based on Nashville’s population estimates, was the lowest since 1989. The violent crime rate last year was the lowest since 1990. The property crime rate was the lowest since 1979. The auto theft rate was the lowest in the history of the Metropolitan government.
“The tremendous work of men and women in all parts of the police department, combined with the strong community partnerships we have formed in neighborhood’s throughout Nashville, have led us to our fourth year in a row of overall crime reduction,” Chief Ronal Serpas said. “While that is good news for our city as a whole, significant challenges persist in 2008. Among them are our continuing efforts to deal with repeat offenders who refuse to be rehabilitated, as well as those teenagers who choose crime over education.”
Chief Serpas said he strongly believes the tough new Crooks with Guns law will make Nashville an ever safer place this year. The statute dictates minimum mandatory prison sentences for persons who commit violent felonies or drug crimes while carrying firearms. Between January 1 and Wednesday of this week, Metro officers had charged 29 persons under the Crooks with Guns law.
As for juvenile crime, Chief Serpas said he is very optimistic Mayor Karl Dean’s initiative to reduce the teenage dropout rate, coupled with the police department’s continuing outreach to the clergy and other community groups, will have an impact on the gang and other negative influences young people face.
Recruitment and retention, along with advocating for an evolving and outstanding pay and benefits package, also remain high on the chief’s priority list.
Final crime tabulations for 2007 show that five of the six police precincts recorded crime reductions. The East Precinct led the way with an 8.1% decrease; the South Precinct had a 3.41% decline; the Hermitage Precinct had a 3.40% decline; the West Precinct had a 2.4% decline; and the Central Precinct had a 0.7% decline. The North Precinct, the police department’s largest which covers a land area of 189 square miles, experienced a 3.3% crime increase.
On the drug and prostitution front, precinct-based undercover officers during 2007 charged 5,099 persons with mostly narcotic and prostitution offenses, a 13% increase over 2006. Those detectives recovered 391 firearms, a 30% increase over 2006; seized 103 pounds of cocaine, a 99% increase over 2006; and seized 1,627 pounds of marijuana, a 59% increase over 2006.
Traffic deaths last year totaled 74, a 24% reduction from 2006. Still, victims in more than half of the fatal crashes where seatbelts were available (57%) chose not to wear them. The number of fatal crashes last year was the lowest in more than 15 years.
The number of DUI arrests in 2007 increased by 32% and totaled 4,986, the highest number in 15 years. Injury collisions declined 2.3% last year.
“I am convinced that our commitment to DUI enforcement is saving lives,” Chief Serpas said. “The true stranger crime that is most likely to kill or seriously injure Nashvillians is drunk driving.”
Metro police officers made 260,955 traffic stops during 2007, a 4% decrease from 2006. Motorists received warnings 46% of the time.
“In looking back at 2007, I am most proud of the amazing work and dedication of our officers and professional support staff,” Serpas said. Once again last year, the department was about 5% below full staffing, but our officer ranks are increasing and we should be very close to our authorized strength of 1312 sworn members by the end of 2008. That is very good news for the police department and the neighborhoods we serve.”