PHOTO: According to the NYPD, shootings and murders hit historic lows this summer. Photo Courtesy of Rob Bennet/Mayoral Photography Office
This was the safest summer for the five boroughs in the modern crime-tracking era of the NYPD, according to Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.
From June 1 through Aug. 31, shootings and murders were the lowest they have been in more than 20 years, Bratton said; and the department recorded 82 murders and 345 shootings over the same period. Additionally, during the summer, cops made 74 more gun arrests—a rise of 9 percent over the same period in 2014.
Compared to this time last year, murder is up 6 percent and reported rape is up 5 percent in summer 2015. Shooting incidents were down 1 percent, year to date, according to the latest CompStat numbers.
Robbery is up approximately 1 percent, Bratton reported, and assault is down 3 percent. Burglary is down 12 percent, grand larceny is down 3 percent, and grand larceny auto is down 5 percent.
“We continue to see our targeted enforcement working. The department is more precise in its policing than ever—with significantly lower crime totals and more gun arrests,” Bratton said, adding that so far this year, cops have made 40,000 fewer arrests and have issued 58,000 fewer criminal court summonses compared to last year.
Additionally, transit crime is up 107 offenses system-wide, or 7 percent. Most of these crimes are grand larcenies or theft of unattended property, Bratton noted. Housing is down 116 crimes or 3 percent, as of Aug. 31, he added.
However, Bratton’s claims of a historically safe summer in the big city were met with strong criticism by at least one bold-face name: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is also a 2016 Republican candidate for president.
“What you’ve seen in this city, and everybody out there who is watching this, in New York, or in New Jersey, who comes to New York City, knows that it is not as safe a place,” Christie said in his Tuesday appearance on “Morning Joe” on MSNBC, via a New York Daily News report.
Asked about those comments Wednesday during an interview with CNN, Mayor Bill de Blasio implored “all the critics who are making up stories” to look at the CompStat figures.
“Crime is going to go down further because we’re adding 1,300 more cops to the NYPD, we’re adding new technology, new training,” de Blasio said. “And I’m convinced this city’s going to get even safer.”
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
