LA Continues 9-Year Crime Drop

Continuing a nine-year decline, crime in Los Angeles dropped in 2011 as police recorded one fewer homicide than it did in 2010 and saw a 7 percent drop in violent crimes, police said Thursday.

Police recorded 298 homicides this year, one more than in 2010. Violent crime, which includes robberies, rapes, homicides, and aggravated assaults, was down nearly 7 percent, police said. Rapes saw the biggest drop among any crime category - 20 percent last year.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck credited the decline to his crime lab investigators who worked to clear a backlog in rape kits.

“It’s been an extremely good year for crime in the city of Los Angeles,” Beck said during his annual press conference announcing crime statistics.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said one of the major accomplishments in the city has been the steady, nine-year decline in crime.

“It’s no small feat that year after year we have good news to share with you about the safety of our streets and our communities,” the mayor said.

Villaraigosa credited the decline to the increased size of the police department, community policing efforts and a strong anti-gang initiative that the mayor said was a model in public safety.

He said the crime rate per capita is at its lowest since 1952.

“This is an extraordinary accomplishment,” he said, adding that it's remarkable especially during a rough economy when crime historically increases.

The mayor also said that the crime drop is also remarkable as Los Angeles was hit at the tail end of the year by several high-profile crimes and events, including a shooting in Hollywood, the presence of thousands of people for the Occupy Los Angeles and the recent arson rampage.

“When you look at those numbers you have to marvel at the work that the men and women of our public safety departments have done,” the mayor said.

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