MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New York City remains the safest city in United States, according to FBI

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly announced that New York City remains the safest big city in the United States, according to the FBI’s Crime in the United States, the preliminary Uniform Crime Report for 2008.

The report shows that violent crime decreased by 4% in New York City during 2008, outpacing a national decline. According to NYPD Compstat data, crime is down an additional 12% citywide for the first five months of the year when compared to 2008 levels. This overall reduction includes a 21% drop in murders, a 17% drop in robberies and a 17% decrease in rape.

“Our police department drove down crime again in 2008, and crime has continued to fall so far in 2009,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “There have been 43 fewer murders, 1,415 fewer robberies and 491 fewer cars stolen than this same time just a year ago. Using innovative policing strategies and a focus on keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, we are continuing to do more with less, in spite of the economic downturn.”

“The men and women of the Police Department have continued to make the city safe, often while putting their lives at risk,” said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.

According to data included in the FBI report, of the ten largest reporting cities, New York recorded the lowest Index Crime rate, ranking safest. Of the 25 largest cities in the country reporting to the FBI, New York again recorded the lowest Index Crime rate, ranking safest.

Of the 261 US cities with populations larger than 100,000, New York’s crime rate ranked 246th, placing it between Torrance, California and McKinney, Texas.

According to the Total crime Index for the US largest cities, FBI data, New York stands out with a rate of 2,377.7; San Jose, 2,744.5; Los Angeles, 3,307.6; San Diego, 3,649.7; Las Vegas, 4,913.2; Philadelphia, 5,784.1; Phoenix, 5,874.1; Houston, 6,053.8; Dallas, 6,831.1 and San Antonio, 7,938.1.