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Violent Crime Numbers Dip In Detroit

Detroit officials are being cautiously optimistic about violent crime in the city. Numbers were down eight-percent in the first half of 2010, with the biggest drop in homicide --- a 28-percent decline with 146 this year compared to 202 in 2009.

Police Chief Ralph Godbee says they can use all the community help they can get to keep those numbers down.

"There are groups out there that we can constructively utilize in certain areas to help us by passing along tips, whether it's  a neighborhood patrol, a block club, CB patrol. Every entity out there we're trying to leverage those relationship to the extent that we use them as our eyes and ears," Godbee said.

"We're very pleased, we want to keep this energy going. We are cautiously optimistic that, at the end of this year, which is fastly approaching -- that the year-end numbers will match those of the first six months of the year. So, sustainability is what we're looking for now," he said.

Robberies dropped by nine percent but rape saw a 10-percent jump and arsons were up 16-percent.

Chief Godbee wants to remind the public that anyone with information about a crime can make an anonymous tip at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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