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L.A. Crime Report Shows A Drop In 2013

Jeremy Fuster |
April 5, 2013 | 5:02 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

 

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck praised Villaraigosa's devotion to law enforcement as a major factor in L.A.'s steadily decreasing crime rates (Neon Tommy)
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck praised Villaraigosa's devotion to law enforcement as a major factor in L.A.'s steadily decreasing crime rates (Neon Tommy)
A report released Friday shows a drop in Los Angeles' crime rate in the first quarter of 2013, continuing a downward trend that goes back to 2005, according to the City News Service.

The improvements were announced at a press conference held by LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and outgoing Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  Beck praised Villaraigosa for his commitment to improving law enforcement during his eight years as mayor by adding officers to the police force.

"This is a mayor whose commitment to public safety, whose vision created the GRYD (Gang Reduction and Youth Development) office, whose understanding of the world, of Los Angeles, has cut violent crime, gang crime and homicides in half since he became mayor," Beck said.

Violent crimes in Los Angeles have dropped 14 percent compared to the same period last year and almost 34 percent since Villaraigosa took office eight years ago. 66 homicides have been record so far this year, nine less than the same period last year. This puts the city on pace to break last year's record low of 298 homicides, according to The Los Angeles Times.

SEE ALSO | Police, Residents Discuss Reasons Behind Watts' Dropping Murder Rate

Villaraigosa called upon the two mayoral candidates, city Controller Wendy Greuel and City Council member Eric Garcetti, to make it a priority to maintain the size of the LAPD at 10,000 officers. Villaraigosa's term ends in June.

"If you want to be the mayor of Los Angeles, then you're going to have to continue to hire police at the levels that we have," he said. "I've had assurances from both candidates that they will, and I hope to hear them speak to that in the course of this campaign.''

The next mayor will face a $150 million budget deficit that could lead to cuts for police funding. Proposition A, a ballot measure that would have solved the deficit by raising the sales tax by a half-cent, was rejected by voters in the March primary election.

Reach Executive Producer Jeremy here or follow him on Twitter

 



 

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