Chicago Police crime stats are down for October

Despite the low number of Chicago Police in the department, Superintendent Jody P. Weis announced on Sunday that the preliminary October crime statistics are down for the 22nd consecutive month. The decreases are in overall, violent, and property index crime.

Compared to last year, total crimes are down 3.7 percent while property and violent index offenses declined at 2 percent and 9.8 percent respectively. Nine fewer murders supported a 2.3 percent category drop compared to the same period in 2009. In addition, 379 murders is lower than the same period, making it the lowest in the City since 1965.

"Nearly 55 percent of murders this year through the end of October were gang-involved, and we need

to continue to strategically target the gang lifestyle - particularly guns and drugs - in order to

decrease murders to our ultimate goal - zero," said Superintendent Jody P. Weis.

The Gang School Safety Team pilot program was expanded in October for the purpose of preventing gang crime through proactive initiatives and suppressing gang violence with communication and conflict resolution strategies. The new violence reduction strategy, which partners the department with other law enforcement groups, presented gang members with social services resources, and a message that swift and certain enforcement would be taken against the gang responsible for the next homicide in the City. Following that meeting, the gang faction responsible for the City's next slaying was identified, and more than 60 of its members were arrested and charged with offenses that included first-degree murder and weapons and drug- related offenses.

In addition, more than 6,900 guns were seized off of the City's streets through the end of October. The percentages of change by categories are:

Violent Index Crime is down 9.8 percent
Property Index Crime is down 2 percent
Theft - down 6.6 percent
Motor Vehicle Theft - up 22.7 percent
Burglary - down 2.1 percent
Robbery - down 11.6 percent
Aggravated Assault - down 12.2 percent
Aggravated Battery - down 6.4 percent
Homicide - down 2.3 percent
Criminal Sexual Assault - down 7.6 percent
Arson - down 9.5 percent

These listings are given every two weeks on the front page of Our Urban Times. By clicking on the link to the 13th and 14th Districts, you may create your own online reports and see each incident for your selection. You may be come more knowledgeable and take a hand in working with the police by attending CAPS meetings. See this page for times and locations.

For more information: Slashes in police staffing