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June 08, 2012	Jim Bove 425-556-2545

Redmond, WA –  The Redmond Police Department’s 2011 statistics reflect similarly to what law enforcement agencies are seeing nationwide—crime is down.

Property crimes, such as residential burglaries and vehicle prowls, decreased 13%. The highest property crime is once again vehicle prowls, but those showed a marked decrease from 684 in 2010 to 554 in 2011. Burglaries, most of which were residential, declined from 198 in 2010 to 157 last year.

With social media, 24-hour media, and astutely effective public information officers, the perception is often that crime is increasing, but reality says differently. Chief Ron Gibson explains, “I am proud of the professional and dedicated work by all Redmond Police Department personnel this past year. Many factors contribute to maintaining the safety of citizens.” He stressed the following as having a positive impact:

• The level of involvement and sense of support received from our community, which was reflected in the 2011 citizen satisfaction survey. It showed 81% are satisfied or very satisfied with police services and 89% feel safe or very safe walking alone in their neighborhood at night.
• The number of active Neighborhood Watch groups and their involvement in reporting suspicious activity.
• The quality programming offered by Parks and Recreation for youth
• The quality of city infrastructure contributes to the sense of pride in our community, which helps deter crime.

Although numbers have been on a steady decline, Chief Gibson aims to continue that momentum, “If we are to maintain our quality of life in Redmond, we need to continue to work in partnership with our community and other law enforcement agencies.”

For additional statistics, visit: www.redmond.gov/PublicSafety/Police/CrimeStats

                                       
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