City of Rochester
News Release
(Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015) – Mayor Lovely Warren and Police Chief Michael Ciminelli released a report on Rochester’s 2014 crime statistics today that reveals Rochester’s neighborhoods are getting safer as the partnership between officers and neighbors continues to improve.
Rochester Part I Crime: 1985-2014
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| Click image to view full report (PowerPoint) |
“Our neighborhoods are getting safer,” said Mayor Warren. “Under the leadership of Chief Ciminelli, our police officers are doing an excellent job reaching out to the citizens. And more importantly, the citizens are responding. The partnership between the citizens and our police officers is making a difference on our streets.”
“While we are gratified to be able to report that Rochester streets are safer, we are not satisfied,” said Chief Ciminelli. “We will continue to work hard, and try to find better and innovative approaches to achieve even more improvement.”
As an indicator of the relationship between community involvement and crime reduction, Mayor Warren and Chief Ciminelli pointed to the homicide clearance rate. At 78 percent, the clearance rate is almost twice the national average and shows that citizens are becoming more willing to provide officers and investigators with valuable information that can lead to an arrest.
Other highlights of the statistics include:
- Homicides dropped 19 percent, from 42 to 34, and were 4.5 percent below the five-year average of 36.
- After two years of steady increases, the number of shooting victims fell to 187. The number had climbed from 143 to 218 in 2012 and to 228 in 2013.
- Total violent crimes dropped 17 percent, from 1,963 crimes to 1,631 and were 21 percent below the five-year average of 2,066.
- Total Property crimes fell 10 percent, from 9,845 to 8,828, and were 20 percent below the five-year average of 10,975.
Historical trends show:
- Violent Crime is at its lowest level in 10 years and the 2nd lowest in 25 years.
- Part 1 Crime, the FBI term for major crime, is at its lowest level in 25 years.
- Rochester had fewer than 11,000 Part 1 Crimes for the first time in 25 years.
- Robbery and Aggravated Assault are at 25-year lows.
- Property Crimes were all at their lowest rates in 25 years.
The statistics also revealed some key challenges that will continue to be areas of focus for the RPD and their partners in the community.
These include:
- A 28 percent increase in rapes, from 86 to 110, or 13 percent above the five-year average of 98. More than seven out of 10 of the victims knew their assailants. The increase in acquaintance rapes reversed a 7 percent decline in stranger rapes.
- A 35 percent decrease in gun recoveries, from 1056 to 686, or 25 percent below the five-year average of 910.
- An 11 percent increase in motor vehicle thefts, from 534 to 594. But the number is 17 percent below the five-year average of 714.
- Mayor Warren said the numbers reveal that the RPD and the citizens of Rochester are moving in the right direction as they strengthen their partnership in the fight against crime.
The upcoming Police Reorganization, improved diversity in officer ranks and relationship-building programs like Books and Bears and Clergy on Patrol will create more opportunities for the RPD and the citizens to work hand-in-hand, she said. Innovative investments that create jobs and strategies to improve educational outcomes for city children will also improve the vitality of Rochester’s neighborhoods and lead to safer streets, Mayor Warren added.
“Rochester’s neighborhoods are getting safer, but we still have a great deal of work to do,” said Mayor Warren. “We will not rest until every man, woman and child in Rochester can live without fear in their neighborhood and reach their full potential – regardless of where they were born or where they choose to live.”
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News Media: for more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.