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melissa.moon@wreg.com
(Memphis-9/15/09) Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin says new high-tech crime fighting tools are making Memphis a safer place to live.
Tuesday ,Godwin also told council Memphis that since the police departments "Blue Crush" initiative was launched in 2006 crime in Memphis has been reduced by as much as 17%.
"In 2009 there are 8,000 less victims than there were in Memphis in 2006," said Director Godwin.
In fact, Godwin says in the past three years auto thefts have dropped 25%, residential burglaries 11% and business robberies nearly 33%.
He says right now homicides are also down 11% over the same period last year.
"It is going to be hard to beat it this year, the numbers. The numbers coming in, its going to be difficult, but we are shooting for it. We want to get better and better and better," said Godwin.
Godwin says the city's newest crime fighting tools, including sky watch patrol towers, mobile sky cameras and a real time crime center are putting police in more places and keeping the crooks away.
Godwin says the technology was used at 2 recent games at the Liberty Bowl. He says even though the events were attended by tens of thousands there was very little crime.
"We have less than 2 car break-ins at each one and 1 auto theft. Those numbers we would expect many more break-ins than that and it has to do with our technology," said Director Godwin.
Godwin admits there are still areas, like parts of Frayser, where gang-related violence, drug activity and robberies are still high, but says officers are using under cover operations to fight crime there.
Godwin also told council members he could still use several more sky cameras and watch towers to put more cops in more places in the city. For more news updates from the field follow me at http://www.twitter.com/melissamoon3.
- Police Director Larry Godwin says there are fewer crime victims in Memphis thanks to "Blue Crush" initiatives
- Godwin says new high tech crime fighting tools are also working
- The police director says over the last 3 years crime in Memphis has droped 17%
melissa.moon@wreg.com
(Memphis-9/15/09) Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin says new high-tech crime fighting tools are making Memphis a safer place to live.
Tuesday ,Godwin also told council Memphis that since the police departments "Blue Crush" initiative was launched in 2006 crime in Memphis has been reduced by as much as 17%.
"In 2009 there are 8,000 less victims than there were in Memphis in 2006," said Director Godwin.
In fact, Godwin says in the past three years auto thefts have dropped 25%, residential burglaries 11% and business robberies nearly 33%.
He says right now homicides are also down 11% over the same period last year.
"It is going to be hard to beat it this year, the numbers. The numbers coming in, its going to be difficult, but we are shooting for it. We want to get better and better and better," said Godwin.
Godwin says the city's newest crime fighting tools, including sky watch patrol towers, mobile sky cameras and a real time crime center are putting police in more places and keeping the crooks away.
Godwin says the technology was used at 2 recent games at the Liberty Bowl. He says even though the events were attended by tens of thousands there was very little crime.
"We have less than 2 car break-ins at each one and 1 auto theft. Those numbers we would expect many more break-ins than that and it has to do with our technology," said Director Godwin.
Godwin admits there are still areas, like parts of Frayser, where gang-related violence, drug activity and robberies are still high, but says officers are using under cover operations to fight crime there.
Godwin also told council members he could still use several more sky cameras and watch towers to put more cops in more places in the city. For more news updates from the field follow me at http://www.twitter.com/melissamoon3.
