Index crime statistics comparing the first six months of 2012 to 2011 in municipalities served by St. Louis County officers as well as unincorporated St. Louis County, show an overall reduction of 12.5 percent, according to a Wednesday news release from St. Louis County police officer Rick Eckhard.
The area covered in this report includes .
Eckhard stated violent crimes also dropped by 7.2 percent, in comparison to last year's figures.
He said 12 homicides were reported in 2011 compared to two homicides this year, resulting in a decrease in murder of 83.3 percent. The release revealed reductions in many other public safety categories, such as:
- The number of forcible rapes decreased 25 percent
- Robbery decreased 11.5 percent
- Aggravated assault decreased 1.1 percent
- Arson decreased by 22.2 percent
- Burglary decreased 28.1 percent
- Larceny-theft decreased by 9.5 percent.
Motor vehicle theft increased by 3.7 percent, however, Eckhard said.
St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch stated he was proud of the county's patrol officers, detectives and support personnel because "this decrease emphasizes their dedication and commitment to the community."
"We have been able to reach and maintain full beat staffing on the street and have implemented several special enforcement programs that were targeted at high crime areas. It is also notable that heroin deaths in St. Louis County have declined from 39 in 2012 to 25 in 2012, resulting in a 35.9 percent decrease compared to last year at this time," Fitch said.
St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley also commented about the crime reduction in the announcement: "I commend the St. Louis County Police Department and Chief Fitch in this very important success. The proactive programs and partnerships that the County Police have initiated in our community are reflected through these statistics. St. Louis County is a great place to live, work and raise a family."
