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CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
SEPTEMBER 6, 2016
TITLE:
SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT
STATISTICS
(STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 1, 2)
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CITY MANAGER
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❑ As Recommended
❑ As Amended
❑ Ordinance on 1st Reading
❑ Ordinance on Td Reading
❑ Implementing Resolution
❑ Set Public Hearing For
CONTINUED TO
FILE NUMBER
Receive and file Santa Ana Police Department Statistics Memorandum.
DISCUSSION
This memorandum is a follow -up to the August 16, 2016 discussion on item 85A related to crime
statistics, hiring, budget, and patrol staffing (Exhibit 1).
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Approval of this item supports the City's efforts to meet Goal #1 — Community Safety, Objective #2
(broaden communications, information sharing and community awareness of public safety
activities).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
EXHIBIT: 1. Memorandum
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1
6
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council Date: August 30, 2016
,
From: David Cavazos, City Manage
Subject: Follow -up to August 161h Council Meeting
This memorandum is a follow -up to the August 16 85A and the related discussion on crime statistics,
hiring, budget and patrol staffing.
Before providing information on our progress and successes in the area of improved public safety, it is
important to thank our dedicated public safety professionals and City leadership, including our current
and former Police Chiefs. We express our special gratitude to our Police Department for their service to
the Santa Ana community. I would also like to thank the Police Officers Association past President
Franks and current President Serrano for their continued commitment to making Santa Ana one of the
safest communities in the country. Santa Ana is commonly ranked among America's safest large cities
by various publications (e.g. Forbes Magazine ranked Santa Ana 4`h safest city 20091, ADT Security
Company ranked 5`h safest city 20142, WorldAtlas ranked 11th safest city 20163, and Niche ranked Santa
Ana in the Top 50 safest US cities 2016°). The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Uniform Crime Rate
(UCR) is the basis of evaluation for these rankings.
Safety always comes first and is a major reason that Santa Ana has made outstanding progress in the
following categories: improved property values, increased sales tax revenue, increased business
licenses, 20% General Fund reserve levels, and higher employment rates for our residents. Again, this
would not have been possible without the commitment of the City toward public safety. We know that
when deciding where to live, shop and invest, safety is a top priority and that is why over 335,000
residents and over 29,000 businesses choose Santa Anas.
I would like to commend Police Chief Carlos Rojas for his exceptional leadership as Police Chief since
2013 and his long- standing commitment to Santa Ana starting as a Police Officer since 1990. We are
making progress, which is why Santa Ana has the lowest three -year average crime rates than in the
previous 30 years (see chart below) as substantiated by the UCR report by the FBI6. The FBI has been
standardizing, collecting, and validating crime statistics since 1930 to provide normalized data across all
local, tribal, state, and federal agencies'.
The FBI collects the number of Part I offenses (murder and non - negligent manslaughter, forcible rape,
robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny -theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson) from law
enforcement agencies. This information is then analyzed for arithmetical accuracy and for deviations in
data entry. Santa Ana is categorized as a Group I City, which includes all cities with a population of more
than 250,000. It is important to emphasize that any shooting related to a Part I offenses, as reported to
the FBI, are captured in the UCR Crime Index.
Exhibit 1
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INC
Note: 1) FBI nether defines nor statistically documents "shootings"
2) City Manager /Police Commissioner Walters Separated January 2013
3) FBI UCR Data from 1981ta 2012.2013 -2015 data pending validation
4) Names of the Police Chiefs displayed
0
li4J IMV" 1'R_/ EIXIt ENE En1E
The same data was utilized to provide a comparison for local cities within 10 miles of Santa Ana with a
population over 300,000, in this case the cities of Long Beach and Anaheim. The three cities show
similar downward trending crime over the last 30 years. Santa Ana has most recently outpaced the
downturn in crime when compared to our closest neighbors.
FBI Crime Index: Long Beach Anaheim Santa Ana9
FBI index
Major Cities within 10 Miles
im
F.
N
61-
so
10
30
20
Santa Ana
Santa Ana has Successfully
Reduced our UCR Rate!
1937 1969 1989 1930 1931 14>J 1991 INV 1995 111, IW] 111F 1'99 EUHr ENi ew[ 2n.13 b%14 EWS 2046 ECOE }aJP EOJ9
�mu�em, 161 ON -wdsv Pale — IOng Beaan FBI III -Ftlex hale — Sanla 11, FC 116—l1.16atx
2
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FBI Crime Index, 1957 to 20158
74 p
percent F
FBI Crime Statistics
reduction in
crime R
R. Davis
C. Cmndste P
FBI Crime Index Includes:
P Walters F
BRIn E
%.101
E %
Aggravated assault, forcible rape,
.............. _. _.a.... _.
murder, robbery, arson, burglary,
larceny- rceny -thek, and motor vehicle
]. P
P. Wakers t
theft.
0 315 50
a '
6NB O
Overall Trend
74% Reduction
snx, P
P. waiters '\
`- P
P. Walters
aom P
P. Walters P. Walters
P. Walters
P Walters
J.S RR]
-Y .............
Emu 2
2 1113.1
C. Rojas
Note: 1) FBI nether defines nor statistically documents "shootings"
2) City Manager /Police Commissioner Walters Separated January 2013
3) FBI UCR Data from 1981ta 2012.2013 -2015 data pending validation
4) Names of the Police Chiefs displayed
0
li4J IMV" 1'R_/ EIXIt ENE En1E
The same data was utilized to provide a comparison for local cities within 10 miles of Santa Ana with a
population over 300,000, in this case the cities of Long Beach and Anaheim. The three cities show
similar downward trending crime over the last 30 years. Santa Ana has most recently outpaced the
downturn in crime when compared to our closest neighbors.
FBI Crime Index: Long Beach Anaheim Santa Ana9
FBI index
Major Cities within 10 Miles
im
F.
N
61-
so
10
30
20
Santa Ana
Santa Ana has Successfully
Reduced our UCR Rate!
1937 1969 1989 1930 1931 14>J 1991 INV 1995 111, IW] 111F 1'99 EUHr ENi ew[ 2n.13 b%14 EWS 2046 ECOE }aJP EOJ9
�mu�em, 161 ON -wdsv Pale — IOng Beaan FBI III -Ftlex hale — Sanla 11, FC 116—l1.16atx
2
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Hiring is up
733%
compared
to 2012
Last three
years
reverses
previous
trend in
reduced
officers per
thousand
Number of Officers /Hiring
The City has provided tremendous support to the hiring of Police Officers. Since FY 2013 -14, the City
Council has increased the authorized number of sworn positions from 329 to 373. This support has
allowed the Police Department to increase the number of FTE's assigned to the Backgrounds Unit from
1 to 7.5.
Additionally, the City Council approved an agreement on June 21, 2016 with marketing /advertising firm
Sensis to market and advertise police officer openings throughout Southern California10. The Police
Department is projected to hire 50 additional sworn officers in 2016. In 2012, only six sworn officers
were hired. This increase from 6 to 50 is a 733 percent increase over the four -year period.
420
400
380
360
340
320
300
Adopted Sworn Staffing Levels
Category 1
■ FY 12 -13 ■ FY 13 -14 ■ FY 14 -15 ■ FY 15 -16 ■ FY 16 -17
In 2012, the City of Santa Ana reduced the number of sworn officers by 74. This represents the largest
single -year reduction in police officers in at least 30 years, which is equal to an 18 percent reduction of
sworn personnel. This follows a 1986 -2013 trend of fewer police officers per thousand from a high of
1.63/1,000 in 1986 to a 0.99/1,000 in 2014, resulting in an average annual decrease of .021/1,000. In
the last 3 years, the number of sworn positions has increased by 44 officers to 1.09/1,000. The chart
below illustrates the breakdown of the increased positons.
Police Officer Hiring
60
50 yQI
40 �0a
�V
30 11�
20
10 6
o _
2012
3
19J -5
50
2016
Authorized Positions Added
As of
FY 13 -14:11
06/20/16
• 74 Positions eliminated
25 PD
FY 14 -15 Added :12
Officer
16 Positions added
Hired.
FY 15 -16 Added:"
On 9/19/16
• 23 Positions added
10 more
FY 16 -17 Added:14
will start
• 6 Positions added
Police Officer Hiring
60
50 yQI
40 �0a
�V
30 11�
20
10 6
o _
2012
3
19J -5
50
2016
Patrol Shift Staffing
The Santa Ana Police Department has an average of 26 officers in the field to meet public safety
concerns. The chart below provides an example of uniformed officers available to respond to the needs
of the community.
PATROL STAFFING
Officers scheduled when
they are most needed
noun 01OQ 0]OP, 0HQG ortoo 05 DO 06DO 0700 0800 D9no loon 1] 00 1200'3M) 14CO `s' .tuo 1100 1800 IDOO 2QU ;toll z]eo 1300
•`11191 • Other - MO;o[; 01, C311111 Nr ltod P111111, "I
Refocused on Patrol
• The first independent patrol staffing study was conducted by the University of North Texas. The
study's results were presented to the Public Safety Committee and to the entire City Council.
Since the presentation the City Council has approved officer positions identified in the staffing
study.
• An enhanced focus on Community Policing by increasing community engagement through the
Citizens Police Academy, Coffee with a Cop, publishing a Community Policing Calendar/
Engagement Plan and more effectively deploying police officers based on service demand in
smaller geographical areas to better engage the community.
• COPS Grant Funding — The City was successful in receiving back -to -back awards for 20 Police
Officers.
• An 83 percent increase in UASI funding that has allowed for enhanced training for over 100
officers in the area of Emergency Casualty Care that has led to the saving of 6 lives by Santa Ana
Police Officers.
4
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911 Response Times
All call types are given a pre- determined priority by the computer system. The highest priority of 1 to
the lowest priority of 5; are based on the type of call and the urgency for immediate police response.
Priorities are defined as follows:
• Priority 1: An emergency where an immediate threat to life exists.
• Priority 2: A threat exists to the safety of a citizen and /or in progress crime. This includes
threats to property.
911 Call Response Time
Priority 1
9
a
7 ......... ..... ..... ........................
fi
5
3 Average 6.9min
2
1
0
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Jul- Aug - SeV 0.Y- Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May Jun- Jul- Aug- Sep- W Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May- Jury Jul -
14 14 14 14 14 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16
- Pricrityl 6.67 6.58 735 7.32 6.73 7.02 7.1 6.55 7.5 6.48 6.53 6.45 6.22 605 6.67 6.70 682 7.35 705 7.22 6.67 7,75 7.28 7.67 6.95
12
10
a
911 Call Response Time
Priority 2
c 6
4 Average 9.7min
,2
0
hP ,y0 v0 ,ve >n �a tih ti5 �5 `N ti5 yb `yh ,SS �h cab �5b cab `fib .yb �b \yb
�9 PJ4i 5eQ CY �o' Oe Yam Ie�o �.aS pQC� 3y,2C Y4c 1`1 p4m yaQ � �e Da'
hub Aug- Sep Oct- Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May Jun- Jul- Aug- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec Jam Feb- Mar Apo- Map Jun Jul
14 14 14 14 14 14 15 35 15 IS 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16
- PnaritY2 905 932 967 9.83 9.38 9.12 882 9.35 9.42 9.62 940 927 9.05 8.97 990 9.58 9.70 988 9A8 100710.20112011 18 13 03 1003
5
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POLICE DEPARTMENT & GENERAL FUND
BUDGET COMPARISONS
58 cents
out of every
new dollar
FY 12 -13 compared to FY 16 -17
c
since 2012
has gone to
FY 12 -13 FY 16 -17*
% Change fr1
FY 12 -13
SAPID
Budget Budget
Difference
FY 16.
It
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
101,365,485 120,257,118
18,891,633
1'.
't
GENERAL FUND BUDGET **
196,497,775 228,970,000
32,472,225
1'
% OF PD BUDGET TO GFJ 51.6%
*Includes PD attrition savings of $8.9M in personnel cateogry in FY 16117
* *Includes attrition Savings of $11.9M in GFfor FY 16/17
250,000,000
230,000,000
210,000,000
190,000,000
170,000,000
150,000,000
130,000,000
t10,000,000
90,000,000
70,000,000
BUDGET COMPARISONS
r ;GENERAL FUND BUDGET' NPOLICE DEPARTAENT BUDGET
228,970,000
AAOIO
198,497,775 k
FY 0809
Budget
58.2%
170,000,000
150,000,000
130,000,000
110,000,000
90,000,000
70,000,000
FY 12.13 FY 18.17-
Budget Budget
6
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Investment in Equipment
The City has made continued investments into the equipment necessary for the City's Police Officers to
safely and efficiently do their jobs. This included over $5.3 million for the replacement and procurement
of new fleet vehicles for the Police Department in the last six years.
PD Vehicles Put into Service
Note: FY 16 -17 numbers are estimates based on approved budget
• New Equipment
• Daniel Defense patrol rifles for every vehicle
• Remington shotguns for every vehicle
• Def Tech less lethal launchers for every vehicle
• Glock handguns and Tasers
• MILO — Interactive Range Training Simulator (2013)
• 800Mhz System Improvements
o $4.8M agreement with Motorola to replace dispatch consoles, portable handheld radios,
and hot red radios.
o $2.21M commitment in partnership costs to upgrade 800Mhz backbone
• Software Systems
• TriTech Software System ($2.6M Integrated Software Project)
• IA Pro / Blue Team Software (Professional Standards Division)
• E -Soph Software (Backgrounds Unit)
• Power DIMS Training Software (Training Division)
Lateral Officers
3:1 Ratio Since 2012, 27 police officers have lateraled into the Santa Ana Police Department while 9 have
of Lateral lateraled out to other agencies. This year, one officer has lateraled out, which is the lowest since 2012.
In to Out SAPD averaged over 100 applications per year from police officers wanted to later to SAPID. In addition,
on average, SAPD receives over 2,600 Police Recruit applications. SAPD is regarded as one of the finest
law enforcement agencies in the region.
Patrol
Motors
Others
Total
Total cost
FY 2013/14 to 16/17
63
18
17
98
$ 3,987,686
FY 2011/12 to 12/13
311
5
5
36
$ 1,360,254
Note: FY 16 -17 numbers are estimates based on approved budget
• New Equipment
• Daniel Defense patrol rifles for every vehicle
• Remington shotguns for every vehicle
• Def Tech less lethal launchers for every vehicle
• Glock handguns and Tasers
• MILO — Interactive Range Training Simulator (2013)
• 800Mhz System Improvements
o $4.8M agreement with Motorola to replace dispatch consoles, portable handheld radios,
and hot red radios.
o $2.21M commitment in partnership costs to upgrade 800Mhz backbone
• Software Systems
• TriTech Software System ($2.6M Integrated Software Project)
• IA Pro / Blue Team Software (Professional Standards Division)
• E -Soph Software (Backgrounds Unit)
• Power DIMS Training Software (Training Division)
Lateral Officers
3:1 Ratio Since 2012, 27 police officers have lateraled into the Santa Ana Police Department while 9 have
of Lateral lateraled out to other agencies. This year, one officer has lateraled out, which is the lowest since 2012.
In to Out SAPD averaged over 100 applications per year from police officers wanted to later to SAPID. In addition,
on average, SAPD receives over 2,600 Police Recruit applications. SAPD is regarded as one of the finest
law enforcement agencies in the region.
* retired and working for another jurisdiction
Santa Ana is very grateful to our City Leadership, Police Chief, Command Staff, and out dedicated Police
Officers.
Thank you.
19J-9
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Total
Laterals Out
0
4
3
1
1
9
Laterals In
5
4
5
10
3
27
* retired and working for another jurisdiction
Santa Ana is very grateful to our City Leadership, Police Chief, Command Staff, and out dedicated Police
Officers.
Thank you.
19J-9
I Forbes. (2011). America's safest cities. Forbes. Retrieved from
http: / /www.forbes.co m/ sites /bethgreenfield /2011/12/15/a mericas- safest - cities / #63426d e22e8b.
2 Protect Your Home. (2014). The top 12 safest cities in America. ADT /Protect Your Home. Retrieved
from https : / /www.protectyourhome.com /blog /articles/ 2014 / march /top -12- safest - cities - america.
3 WorldAtlas. (2014). Safest cities in America. WorldAtlas. Retrieved from
http: / /www.woridatlas. com /articles /safest- cities -i n -the - united- states.htm I.
4 Niche. (2016). 2016 Safest cities in America. Niche. Retrieved from
https://Iocal.niche.com/rankings/cities/safest/.
6 City of Santa Ana. (2016). Facts and figures. City of Santa Ana. Retrieved from
http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/facts/.
6 Federal Bureau of Investigations. (2016). Uniform crime reporting. Federal Bureau of
Investigations. Retrieved from https://ucr.fbi.gov/.
7 Federal Bureau of Investigations. (2016). About the uniform crime reporting (UCR) program.
Federal Bureau of Investigations. Retrieved from https: / /ucr.fbi.gov /crime -in- the -u.s /2011 /crime-
in- the -u.s.- 2011 /aboutucrmain.
8 Federal Bureau of Investigations. (2016). Uniform crime reporting. Federal Bureau of
Investigations. Retrieved from https: / /ucr.fbi.gov /.
9 Federal Bureau of Investigations. (2016). Uniform crime reporting. Federal Bureau of
Investigations. Retrieved from https: / /ucr.fbi.gov /.
to City of Santa Ana. (2016). Agreement with Sensis for police officer recruitment campaign. City of
Santa Ana. Retrieved from
http: / /santaana.granicus .com /MetaViewer.php ?view id =2 &clip id= 743 &meta id= 34997.
11 City of Santa Ana. (2013). FY 2013 -2015 adopted budget. City of Santa Ana. Retrieved from
http: / /www. ci.sa nta -a na.ca. us /finance /bud get /2013- 2015 /documents /2013-
2015 adopted budget.pdf.
" City of Santa Ana. (2013). FY 2013 -2015 adopted budget. City of Santa Ana. Retrieved from
http: / /www.ci.sa nta -a na. ca. us /finance /budget /2013- 2015 /documents /2013-
2015 adopted budget.pdf.
13 City of Santa Ana. (2015). Adopted budget, fiscal year 2015 -2016. City of Santa Ana. Retrieved
from http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/finance/budget/documents/2015-16 adopted budget.pdf.
14 City of Santa Ana. (2016). Proposed budget, fiscal year 2016 -2017. City of Santa Ana. Retrieved
from http• / /www.ci Santa- ana.ca.us/ finance /budget /2016- 2017 /documents /2016-
17 budget book 20160621.pdf.
REFERENCES
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The Top 12 Safest Cities In America
There's a lot to be said about home security. From locks, to security systems, to adequate
lighting, a lot can be done to help protect you and yours from unsavory individuals. When it
comes to keeping them safe, however, sometimes putting yourself in the right environment is
the most potent form ofprotection. From The Big Apple to the west coast, the cities listed
here could provide your family with protection, entertainment, and peace.
12. New York, NY
As shocking as it may seem, The Big Apple is among the top 12 safest cities in the United
States. Despite the tough exterior ofthe "greatest city in the world ", a rank of 27th in violent
crime (a lower rank indicating lower levels of violent crime) belies a population less likely to
assault you than give you directions. In addition, the traffic ofthe metropolitan megalith is
among the safest for pedestrians in the country, clocking in at 3rd. While some areas are safer
than others, you can be sure that a trip down Park Ave will be a safe one.
11. Round Rock, TX
Mayor Alan McGraw can be proud of his town. One of the fastest growing cities in America,
Round Rock experienced 0 murders last year, and only 104 violent crimes per 100,000
residents. With robust community monitoring programs, developed recreational
infrastructure, and listing in numerous publications as one of the safest, most innovative, and
most idyllic suburbs in the country, it's no wonder the residents ofthis Texas town are happy
with their city.
10. Colorado Springs, CO
When it comes to idyllic, it's hard to beat the mountainous terrain and breathtaking views of
Colorado Springs. The home of the US Olympic training facilities also boasts a remarkably
low crime rate, coming in at 18 on the annual rankings. Coupled with a developed public
transit system, extensive recreational facilities infi tstructure, and local economy bolstered by
'1'9€142
athletes and coaches, the city enjoys all the peace of mind of a small town, with all the
attractions and pageantry of a large one.
9. Gilbert, AZ
In the desert of Arizona lies number 9 on our list of top 12 safest cities. The residents of
Gilbert enjoy a paltry 95 violent crimes and 28 robberies per 100,000 residents. Bolstered by
an automated emergency and town calendar system, the sleepy settlement combines great
scenery, warm temperatures, and a satiate population to the benefit of its residents and its
reputation.
8. Mesa, AZ
Outside the bustling suburb of Scottsdale, companion to the larger city of Phoenix, lies the
quiet city of Mesa. In addition to its art culture, natural attractions, theaters, and adult sports
leagues, the town boasts a violent crime rank of 8 and a car fatality ranking of 10. These
factors, robust public entertainment programs, and proximity to an affluent suburb have
rendered Mesa one of the safest cities in the United States.
7. San Jose, CA
The third- largest city in California and l Oth4argest in the nation, San Jose residents enjoy all
the comforts of a big city without the accompanying crime. With a network of hospitals,
multitude of universities and colleges, two libraries, and heavy emphasis on environmental
consciousness, the population is largely affluent, well-educated, and well-occupied. These
factors are what likely account for the city's 6th -place making in violent crimes, and 12th -
place tanking in traffic fatalities.
6. Murietta, CA
While few may be familiar with the second California city on the list, one statistic in
particular stands out: 1. That's 1 murder per 100,000 residents. With a population of only
103,000 at the time ofthe 2010 census, this nascent city boasts a historical district healthy
business development effort, and violent crime rate of 95 per 100,000. The combination has
placed it in the upper - echelons of many "safest city" lists; an honor the town is likely to
retain.
5. Santa Ana, CA
Tucked within the wealthy district of Orange County, California, Santa Ana enjoys all the
privileges ofhigh tax revenue without the dangers of cities equal in size. At approximately
331,000 residents, the locale enjoys a vehicle fatality ranking of4th in the nation, not to
mention a violent crime ranking of 11th. With copious resources at their disposal and a
proven track record of safety, it's no wonder why so many residents enjoy the sunshine of
Santa Ana.
4. Cary, NC
Across the country, the 7th largest municipality in North Carolina breaks our top 5 rankings.
The largely unremarkable rural town has something to say when it comes to safety, boasting a
rate of violent crimes and robberies per 100,000 residents of 85 and 25 respectively. While it
may not be the Big Apple, those looking for a quieter life, unmolested by the dangers of the
world, can enjoy their stay in Cary.
3. Honolulu, HI
With sunshine, surd wealth, and culture, Honolulu appears to be destined for the top 12. At
approximately 375,000 residents, the state capital of Hawaii enjoys a violent crime ranking of
4th, thanks to strict gun control laws and remarkable affluence. Coupled with a traffic fatality
i1 -911?
Societ
Safes Cities In America
Though the American West Coast dominates this list of the country's safest cities, there are also some
surprising entries.
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Despite being proximate to other relatively violent cities, Virginia Beach is itself as appealing for its
safety as it is for its iconic boardwalk.
The old adage "Safety always comes first" has a lot of merit in many aspects of life. Whether you are
interested in relocating for your career, trying to decide where you want to attend college, or are looking
for a good neighborhood to buy a home in, the relative safety of each of your prospective new locales
should be a top priority in making the final decision. With this in mind, we present some of the Safest
Cities to Live in the United States, based on per capita violent crime rates.
Safest Cities in the United States
Nobody wants to live in a city or neighborhood where they feel afraid or threatened at all times. Crime
rates have decreased by about 4.4% across the United States in recent years, with the numbers of violent
crimes like murder, rape and robbery facing an even more pronounced 15% decline over the past 12
years. With the country becoming increasingly safe, there are quite a few cities in the United States of
America that stand out for their especially low crime rates. According to statistics, some of the major US
cities with the lowest rates of violent crime are Virginia Beach in Virginia, Henderson in Nevada, and
Plano in Texas.
REFERENCE 3
19J -14
Major cities that are considered the safest in America
On the list of the safest cities in the US, Virginia Beach, VA comes in as first, with a crime rate of just
146.31 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Crime rates have continued to decrease significantly in the city,
as it has improved from being ranked #7 in 2013. Best known for its tourism, Virginia Beach has done
remarkably well in keeping both its citizens and tourists safe, with the city's crime rates standing at their
lowest since 1963. Records show that violent crimes like robbery and rape had dropped by a full 6.4%
since 2013, and property crimes had declined by about 13% in the city.
The second city on this list is Henderson, NV, with an average of 164.89 violent crimes per 100,000
people annually. A major reason why crime rates are so low in the city are sourced from the community-
based initiatives offered by the Henderson Police Department. As is becoming increasingly known all
over the country, the Henderson Police Department has successfully established a Community Relations
Bureau which, together with volunteer programs, has contributed in deterring crime in the area.
The third safest city in the US is Plano, TX. In the past, the city had experienced an increase in violent
crime rates by over 8 %, which brought its position down to 46 in this list. However, with an average of
165.21 violent crimes per 100,000 people, this year it is back to the third position. With a population of
about 275,795 and a median household income of $83,193, the murder rate in the city is believed to be
around just 1 in every 100,000 people annually.
Other Cities to Debut on the List
The next city on this list is Chandler, Arizona, with a violent crime rate of just 184.65 per 100,000 people.
What is most interesting about this entry is that Chandler was not in the Top 10 Safest US Cities Lentil as
recently as 2013. In 2014, there were only two murders in the city, whereas there were four in 2013. A
few other cities that have made it to this list are Chula Vista, CA, Fort Wayne, IN, Anaheim, CA, San
Jose, CA and Lexington, KY. Their respective violent crime rates per 100,000 people stood at 235.48,
317.30, 321.09 and 333.82 at last count.
Virginia Beach: A Unique Case In Coastal Virginia
Indeed, it may strike some as odd that Virginia Beach has made this list, especially considering that other
cities in the area are known to be quite dangerous places to live in. In fact, the nearby cities of
Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton Roads, and Norfolk have each long had murder rates well above
the national average. it is a testament to the citizens of Virginia Beach and their law enforcement that they
themselves have rates of Murder, Rape, Auto Theft, Burglary, Robbery, and Assault all well below the
national average, according to the Congressional Quarterly Press City Crime Rankings. It is also
interesting to note that Virginia Beach on the Bast Coast, who tops the list overall, bucks the trend of the
rest of the list, which is dominated by the Western half of the country.
US Cities With The Lowest Violent Crime Rates
Rank City (Over 250,000 People) Violent Crimes per 100,000 People
Virginia Beach, VA 146.31
Henderson, NV 164.89
REFERENCE 3
19J -15
Rank City (Over 250,000 People) Violent Crimes per 100,000 People
3
Plano, TX
165.21
4
Chandler, AZ
184.65
5
Chula Vista, CA
235.48
6
Fort Wayne, IN
317.30
7
Anaheim, CA
317.33
8
San Jose, CA
321.09
9
Lexington, KY
333.82
10
Lincoln, OR
338.49
11
Santa Ana, CA
WNI
12
San Diego, CA
380.95
13
Laredo, TX
388.85
14
El Paso, TX
392.64
15
Austin, TX
396.16
16
Aurora, CO
412.60
17
Riverside, CA
433.24
18
Bakersfield, CA
456.72
19
Colorado Springs, CO
458.25
20
Mesa, AZ
458.57
21
Fresno, CA
464.16
22
Portland, OR
472.82
23
Greensboro, NC
476.96
24
Arlington, TX
484.10
25
Long Beach, CA
489.04
26
Los Angeles, CA
490.71
27
Jersey City, NJ
531.14
28
San Antonio, TX
539.32
29
Columbus, OH
549.22
30
Omaha, NE
560.59
REFERENCE 3
19J -16
III P"
Explore the safest cities in the U.S. based on crime rates for murder,
assault, rape, burglary, and other crime statistics by city. Ranking based
on data from the FBI and U.S. Census.
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Naperville
Illinois
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Thousand Oaks
California
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California
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Round Rock
Texas
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Orange
California
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Ann Arbor
Michigan
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Sunnyvale
California
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Q Tiort 9 M- IM 0
Port St. Lucie
Florida
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Fort Collins
Colorado
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Torrance
10 California
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Santa Clara
California
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Overland Park
12 Kansas
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Corona
13 California
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Plano
14 Texas
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Carlsbad
15 California
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Burbank
16 California
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Cape Coral
17 Florida
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19 -RIIJIN
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Bellevue
18 Washington
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Rochester
19 Minnesota
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Temecula
20 California
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Roseville
21 California
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Richardson
22 Texas
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Boulder
23 Colorado
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Boise
24 Idaho
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Virginia Beach
25 Virginia
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Elgin
26 Illinois
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Henderson
26 Nevada
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Denton
28 Texas
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F(j Rf N GEA
.0 J —'I to
Alexandria
29 Virginia
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Stamford
30 Connecticut
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McAllen
31 Texas
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Costa Mesa
32 California
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Cambridge
33 Massachusetts
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Charleston
34 South Carolina
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Santa Rosa
35 California
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Irving
36 Texas
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El Paso
37 Texas
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Brownsville
38 Toms
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1,41M
M i
• sin
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Lincoln
leo Nebraska
Sioux
41 South Dakota
S:1 tr t' .6..
Madison
42 Wisconsin
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Fargo
1 North a }f
SWow f ' .v '.,.:K
Midland
44 Taxes
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Palm Bay
1 Florida
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Athens
46 Georgia
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detail Show
Salem
'Ye8 Oregon
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Santa Ana
California
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%M 1
50 Ontario
51 NewYorkCity
52 naheim A
53 Hampton
54 Pasadena
55 CO ILImbia
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56 vallCOLIVer
57 Mesa
58 SanJose
59 Ke,nt
60 Laredo
61 Cedaf Rapids
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62 Aurora
REFERENCE!
19J-22
63 Warren
65 Fort Wayne
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66 Wichita Falls
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67 Gainesville
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68 Erie
69 Waco
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70 Tempe
71 Berkeley
72 hex ii n gton- Fayette
73 Riverside
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74 Santa Maria
75 Lakewood
REFERENCE 4
19J-23
80 Davenport
S1 High Point
82 Billin 0 as
83 Everett
84 Los Angeles
35 Oxnard
s(3 Manchester
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87 Abilene
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89 Hayward
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91 Jersey City
92 Tampa
REFERENCE;
19J-24
93 Newport News
95 Portland
97 Killeen
98 Clearwater
Flf'id'i
100 Anchorage
REFERENCE 4
19J-25
19J -26