Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare talks about the Providence crime rates Thursday. Photo by Carolyn Cronin, WPRO News.
WPRO Newsroom
According to FBI statistics, Providence’s citywide crime rate dropped 4 percent from 2011 to 2012. Mayor Angel Taveras announced the news Wednesday morning, just hours after the city’s first homicide of 2013. The data also showed that violent crime rates, those of murder, sex offenses and assault, were about the same from 2011 to 2012, while the murder rate shot up 42 percent
“Public safety is a top priority for me as Mayor,” said Taveras in a statement. “It is important that we share data on the levels of peace and safety in our community and recognize that most categories of crime are down in our City. I commend the leadership and officers of the Providence Police Department for their commitment to our City and their daily efforts to keep Providence safe.”
In the area of property crime, which includes burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft, numbers were down 5% from 2011 in 2012. Burglaries were down 16%.
Officers have also been cracking down on gun violence. In 2012, 130 firearms were seized by Providence Police and in 2013, 25 firearms have been seized to date. Residents are urged call the City’s anonymous gun tip line at 1-855-776-7100 or text “PPDTIP” to 274637 to report illegal guns.
“We face serious challenges each and every shift, and I commend the men and women of the Providence Police Department for their timeless commitment and dedication to keeping the City safe,” said Providence Police Colonel Hugh Clements in a statement. “Reporting on our yearly activity is a reflection of their hard work as the officers certainly do their part to improve the quality of life throughout the neighborhoods of the City. These are more than just numbers, we realize that someone has been affected by criminal activity and we take that seriously.”
