FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 11/24/2009) When it comes to overall crime in Memphis, the city's top cop says the annual crime rankings of cities paint an unfair picture of the Bluff City.
Larry Godwin is the Memphis Police Director. Godwin says the findings aren't fair. Godwin said, "They can rank us 15th or 20th, I still don't put a lot of stock in the numbers because across the country you're comparing apples to oranges."
Actually, Washington-based CQ Press ranks the city of Memphis at number 10 and the eight-county metro area at number 2. Appearing on News Channel 3 Live At 9, Godwin says some cities don't include crime reports that Memphis does.
"If you leave something in your car, if a sticker is stolen from your tag in New York they wouldn't even take a report, they'd take a memo. It has to be a thousand dollars or more."
CQ's reports are based on 2008 crime numbers reported to the FBI that look at murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burlary, and motor vehicle theft.
"We're down over 17 percent from 2006 and let me say this about the numbers that just came out, these are 2008 numbers now."
Surprisingly, the FBI rejects the CQ rankings on its website. They say they cause incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions.
"I don't have a problem taking a report, but it does kind of skews the numbers a little bit to the fact that it makes Memphis worse than we really are."
For now, Godwin says the MPD will continue to focus on crime fighting strategies that are beginning to work.
"Operation Safe Community, the Mayor's Initiative on Prevention and getting the ministers and getting everyone involved. What you're going to see is a partnership and Memphis will become one and we'll fix this problem.>
CQ Press also ranked other Mid-South cities as being some of the worst places for crime. Little Rock came in 12th, Jackson, Tennessee 13th, Jackson, Mississippi was 27th and Hot Springs, Arkansas was number 28.
- City Crime Rankings Are Unveiled
- Memphis Shows Up At No. 10
- Police Director Rejects The Findings
(Memphis 11/24/2009) When it comes to overall crime in Memphis, the city's top cop says the annual crime rankings of cities paint an unfair picture of the Bluff City.
Larry Godwin is the Memphis Police Director. Godwin says the findings aren't fair. Godwin said, "They can rank us 15th or 20th, I still don't put a lot of stock in the numbers because across the country you're comparing apples to oranges."
Actually, Washington-based CQ Press ranks the city of Memphis at number 10 and the eight-county metro area at number 2. Appearing on News Channel 3 Live At 9, Godwin says some cities don't include crime reports that Memphis does.
"If you leave something in your car, if a sticker is stolen from your tag in New York they wouldn't even take a report, they'd take a memo. It has to be a thousand dollars or more."
CQ's reports are based on 2008 crime numbers reported to the FBI that look at murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burlary, and motor vehicle theft.
"We're down over 17 percent from 2006 and let me say this about the numbers that just came out, these are 2008 numbers now."
Surprisingly, the FBI rejects the CQ rankings on its website. They say they cause incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions.
"I don't have a problem taking a report, but it does kind of skews the numbers a little bit to the fact that it makes Memphis worse than we really are."
For now, Godwin says the MPD will continue to focus on crime fighting strategies that are beginning to work.
"Operation Safe Community, the Mayor's Initiative on Prevention and getting the ministers and getting everyone involved. What you're going to see is a partnership and Memphis will become one and we'll fix this problem.>
CQ Press also ranked other Mid-South cities as being some of the worst places for crime. Little Rock came in 12th, Jackson, Tennessee 13th, Jackson, Mississippi was 27th and Hot Springs, Arkansas was number 28.
