Detroit Police Department Releases Latest Crime Figures
DETROIT (WWJ) - Police Chief Ralph Godbee held a community meeting on Tuesday night at an eastside Detroit church on Kelly near Moross, to reveal the year's first quarter crime statistics.
Speaking to a group of citizens who had gathered to hear the latest crime statistics, Godbee said shootings and homicides are up 12 percent over the same time a year ago.
"Our homicides, we are up 13 homicides over the same period of time as last year," Godbee said. "The gun play in the city of Detroit is still not acceptable."
The city recorded a total of 66 murders from January 1st through the end of March. That compares to 59 killings in Detroit during the same period last year. The city also saw a 16 percent increase in nonfatal shootings. Robberies, burglaries, assaults and rapes all were lower than during the first quarter of 2010.
Godbee said he wanted to release the crime numbers now, instead of waiting for the six month update from the FBI so his department can make the needed adjustments as soon as possible.
"I think to wait for FBI crime stats to come out before we start to talk about our deployment strategy, our community engagement, at that point, I think it's too late," Godbee said. "I think we really need to take quarterly increments, take a look at where we're at, so how well we're doing or how well we're not doing."
Godbee said things will not change without active participation from the city's residents.
"The anonymous crime reporting tools that we have at our disposal, I want to make sure that the community is apprised of them and really have a call to action," Godbee said.
He is talking about the 1-800-speak-up tip line, which residents can call to report crimes to the police without identifying themselves. Residents can also report crimes by sending a tip via text. All you have to do is text "CSM and your tip" to 274637 or CRIMES.
As an incentive, anonymous tipsters can receive a cash reward up to $1,000 if there is an arrest based on their information. Last year, more than 4000 tips were called in, leading to over 400 arrests.
