News began to circulate last night that Springfield Police Commissioner Edward Flynn had released first-quarter crime statistics late in the day. Below is the press release.
FLYNN ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER CRIME STATS
Commissioner Edward A. Flynn released crime statistics for the first quarter of 2007 today. A comparison of the first three months of 2006 versus 2007 shows that total crime is down 16 percent, with violent crime down 24 percent.
“I’m extremely happy with the latest crime reduction figures issued by Commissioner Flynn,” said Mayor Charles V. Ryan. “These figures come within weeks of an announcement of a significant drop in 2006 below the crime figures for the previous year in 2005. The important point about the new figures, comparing the first three months of 2007 with the first three months of 2006, is the very substantial reduction in most of the meaningful categories of crime. These results are praiseworthy and I am proud of the contributions of every single member of the department.”
First quarter comparison: 2006 versus 2007
| Crime | 2006 | 2007 | % change |
| gun robbery | 62 | 56 | -10 |
| gun assaults | 62 | 30 | -52 |
| violent crime* | 517 | 395 | -24 |
* Violent crime incidents include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
“These statistics are tangible proof that our community-based, problem-oriented, data driven strategy is working,” said Commissioner Edward A. Flynn. “Deputy Chiefs Mark Anthony, William Cochrane, William Fitchet, and William Noonan are to be commended for their relentless focus on crime and their commitment to breaking down internal barriers to information sharing.”
Other data reflects the continuing downward trend that has been previously reported, with an increase in homicide. Five of the seven incidents were people known to each other, and while all of them are truly horrific, unfortunately, the Police Department cannot generally prevent domestic related homicides such as these.
Exceptions to these are the Kennedy Fried Chicken homicide which clearly fits with the homicide trend from last year, involving people with criminal backgrounds reacting to perceived slights. We have made an arrest in that case.
The other is the homicide at 10 Federal Court in early January, which likely involves a drug-related transaction, although it remains unsolved at this time.
Additional first quarter statistics reflect additional significant decreases in crime:
First quarter comparison: 2006 versus 2007
| Crime | 2006 | 2007 | % change |
| murder | 2 | 7 | 250 |
| robbery | 178 | 147 | -17 |
| aggravated assault | 311 | 221 | -29 |
| burglary | 444 | 481 | 8 |
| larceny | 1297 | 1094 | -16 |
| motor vehicle theft | 422 | 289 | -32 |
| total crime | 2680 | 2259 | -16 |
Most significant is the continuing downward trends in aggravated assaults and robbery, which the [Police] Department can have an effect on with proactive deployments based on data. We continue to see approximately 40 to 60 percent of these incidents occur among people who know each other and are based on an escalating argument or disagreement.
The reduction in these numbers is a clear indication that the strategy of removing the anonymity of street criminals, deploying based on data not emotion, and providing officers with appropriate resources to help them be more effective and to take advantage of their knowledge and experience is a successful one. Officers in the department continue to have an extraordinary talent level, capability level and a consistent desire to do good work.
“Our ambition is to keep building on these positive results,” said Flynn. “As the weather warms we will put additional pressure on ourselves to continue to drive down crime, reduce fear, and effectively manage quality of life issues. I am particularly encouraged by a double digit decrease in overall crime and a nearly one-quarter reduction in violent crime.”
–end release
