Making Mount Vernon Safer for Families, Businesses, and Visitors
**The following are remarks as prepared for delivery by Mayor Richard Thomas, Crime Statistics Press Conference, Mount Vernon City Hall, February 5, 2018
Good morning.
I am very proud to be announcing some very positive news today. Mount Vernon continues to grow safer. Serious crime in the city is down a dramatic 32 percent since 2011. And it is not just me saying it. These are the Police Department’s annual statistics. With me are Police Commissioner Shawn Harris and some his leadership staff. It is important to emphasize that fighting crime is a team sport.
I am also proud to be joined by several of the partners critical to our success. The ATF, the NYPD, the MTA Police, the State Police, the Westchester County Police, our School Resource Officers, and other law enforcement agencies.
Nothing government does is more important than protecting public safety. Mount Vernon, as an urban city, certainly has its challenges. My thanks are never-ending for the brave men and women of our police and fire departments who put their lives on the line for our citizens every day.
Today’s story is how our people and policies continue to make Mount Vernon safer… Each week, the Mount Vernon P.D. tracks seven major crimes and publishes the results. This is part of my administration’s commitment to transparency. The weekly reports are compiled into annual reports.
The crimes fit into two categories:
· Crimes against people: rape, murder and aggravated assault, and
· Crimes against property, robbery, burglary, grand larceny and grand larceny auto.
The findings for 2017 show a 32 percent drop across these seven major crimes since 2011. Not only is the drop dramatic, but most important it’s continuous.
Compared to last year, these serious crimes dropped:
· 8 percent from 2015;
· 10 percent from 2014,
· 29 percent from 2013,
· 23 percent from 2012,
· 32 percent from 2011.
This critically illustrates the long-term impact our people and policies are having. Year over year, all crimes against people dropped:
· rape down 42 percent,
· murder down 36 percent and
· aggravated assault 5 percent.
Results in the category of crimes against property showed:
· robbery down 19 percent,
· burglary down 16 percent,
· grand larceny up 20 percent, and
· grand larceny auto was up 21 percent.
Overall, the numbers represent a 3 percent drop compared to 2016. There’s still work to be done obviously. But the trend is positive.
Nothing is more important than having the right people in place. Everything is dependent on people. Earlier this month, after a nationwide search and the recommendation of our citizens’ group, Commissioner Harris was permanently installed in our top police post. Other leadership appointments in the department were made as well. This gives us a strong management team moving forward, one with the right fit for Mount Vernon; the right insights and knowledge to understand our problems and how to solve them.
It is also worth noting, we have strong management practices in place. For example, each week I meet with the Commissioner and top brass. We review the past week from top to bottom and chart out future actions. In the process, we are making Mount Vernon safer for our children, families, businesses, and visitors. The progress is there. The statistics show it. And, the momentum will grow.
Moving into 2018, the city’s crime-fighting capabilities will get a major boost from 15 new officers. All this shows that quality of life in Mount Vernon is on the upswing and the trajectory for the future is sustainable, tangible and expandable.
So, thanks to our police department and our law enforcement partners for making Mount Vernon safer.
For more, visit www.bit.ly/mvcrimestats
Originally Published in the Westchester County Press — February 15, 2018
