Chief Ronal Serpas today announced that overall major crime in Nashville fell for the third straight year in 2006 to the lowest level since 1990. Last year’s major crime total was 4.9% below that of 2005, with both violent and property crime categories reflecting reductions.
Rape last year declined 5.13% to its lowest level since 1983; auto theft declined 7.67% to its lowest level since 1989; larceny declined 7.63% to its lowest level since 1991; aggravated assault declined 2.78% to its lowest level since 2003; and homicide declined 16.49% to its lowest level since 2004.
The two crime categories showing increases were burglary and robbery. Burglary, which in 2005 dropped to a 36-year low, reflected a 3.06% increase last year. Robbery, which in 2005 showed a 13.47% rise, reflected a much smaller increase of 3.92% in 2006.
The 2006 overall crime rate, which is based on Nashville’s population estimates, was the lowest since 1989. The violent crime rate last year was the lowest since 1990, a 16-year low. The property crime rate in 2006 was the lowest since 1979, a 27-year low.
“The men and women of the Metro police department, in partnership with neighborhoods throughout the city, continue to work diligently every day to reduce crime and enhance quality of life in all areas of Nashville, and I am exceptionally proud of them,” Serpas said. “At the same time, I am tremendously grateful for critical support we continue to receive from Nashville’s families and businesses. The number of neighborhood watch groups that work with our precincts grew once again last year to a new total of 353, a 14% increase.”
“Still, we are not safe as a city until every neighborhood feels safe. We realize crime continues to influence certain areas, and we accept the challenge to continue our work to make a difference in those communities,” Serpas said.
During 2007, the police department will continue its efforts to encourage community leaders to help families regain control of wayward youth. The juvenile crime issue is illustrated by the fact that one-fourth of all robbery arrests made by the police department last year were of persons under the age of 18.
The Metro police department will also add its voice to that of police chiefs, sheriffs, and prosecutors from across the state in encouraging the state legislature to enact stiffer sentencing guidelines for convicted felons who continue to commit crime following their release from custody.
“Eighty-one percent of the 439 persons charged with robbery in 2006 had arrest histories, and 63% actually had prior convictions in their past,” Serpas said. “Our citizens and our police officers are fed up with repeat offenders who continue to victimize innocent persons. I am hopeful that the legislature will look very hard at truth-in-sentencing for repeat violent offenders that would greatly reduce the chances of parole.”
Final crime tabulations for 2006 show all six police precincts recorded crime reductions. The Central Precinct led the way with an 8.8% crime decrease; the North Precinct had a 6.3% decline; the West Precinct had a 4.5% decline; the South Precinct had a 4.3% decline; the East Precinct had a 3.5% decline; and the Hermitage Precinct had a 2.9% decline.
“Our officers are doing tremendous work, particularly when we are about 80 officers below our authorized strength,” Serpas said. “Thanks to the strong support of Mayor Purcell and the Metro Council, the department’s aggressive hiring efforts are continuing. Four trainee classes will be held this year.”
Metro police officers made 271,236 vehicle stops in 2006, a one-half of one percent increase over 2005. Motorists in 38.5% of the 271,236 received warnings, not tickets.
Injury accidents on Nashville’s roadways decreased 4.4% in 2006 when compared to 2005. Traffic fatalities, however, increased from 90 in 2005 to 97 in 2006. A majority (58%) of the 2006 fatal crash victims were not wearing seatbelts in crashes where seatbelts were available.
Supplemental Crime Stats information
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