According to the FBI’s 2018 annual report Crime in the United States, the City of Sterling Heights ranks as the safest big city (over 100,000 population) in Michigan, and ranked safest in both property crime, violent crime, and safest overall.
Sterling Heights recorded lower crime rates in eight of the ten recorded crime categories the FBI tracks compared to 2017. When compared to 2017 numbers: Violent Crimes were down 2%, Murder/Non-Negligent Manslaughter was down 50%, Aggravated Assault decreased for the second year in a row by 54.7%, Property Crime decreased again this time by 11.4%, Burglary decreased again by 15.3%, Larceny decreased by 13% and Arson decreased by 67%. Sterling Heights is already one of the safest cities in the United States with populations over 100,000. The 2018 FBI crime statistics show a continued trend in making Sterling Heights even safer.
“We’ve always known the Sterling Heights Police Department is a first-class organization, but it’s always great to see the results of their exemplary police work backed up by hard data,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael C. Taylor. “Safety is one of our core values here in Sterling Heights, and we’re consistently a top-rated community in Metro Detroit, largely because those looking to raise a family value safety above all else. There is no doubt that the safety of our community also has a significant positive impact on property values, which we have also seen rise over the past several years.”
According to the FBI, their 2018 Crime in the United States annual report is a statistical compilation of offense, arrest, and police employee data reported by law enforcement agencies voluntarily participating in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The UCR Program collects information on crimes reported by law enforcement agencies regarding the violent crimes of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, as well as the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
“We are fortunate our residents are so actively engaged in keeping our city among the safest in our nation,” said Police Chief Dale Dwojakowksi. “It truly is a collaborative effort between the remarkable, relentless men and women of the Sterling Heights Police Department and our residents, business representatives and city officials who support and encourage us to continue to strive for excellence in protecting the citizens of this great city. I couldn’t be any prouder of our department and community.”
Several factors have helped decrease crime in Sterling Heights:
- In 2018, Sterling Heights added two new K-9s to our police department, resulting in an increase in drug forfeiture funds and greater deployments in tracking suspects, finding lost children and elderly residents with memory issues, locating illegal drugs and performing drug sweeps at local schools. In 2019, the City will add a fourth K-9 to Sterling Heights Police Department.
- The City’s Community Outreach and Engagement (CORE) program has also helped reduce crime. CORE officers are assigned an area of the city to serve as that area’s advocate and neighborhood expert, making meaningful relationships within their designated area. They handle complex, non-emergency issues between residents, assist businesses with safety concerns and conduct public programs like walk with a cop, touch-a-truck, National Night Out and security and safety presentations.
- The City’s investment in parks and recreation has also played a role in reducing crime. According to a team of researchers at Clemson and North Carolina State universities, well-kept community green spaces encourage more people to spend time outside in those spaces, leading to a greater degree of informal surveillance of the area and deterring crime.
For more information, contact Community Relations Director Melanie Davis at 586.446.2471 (o) or 586.303.0923 (m) or email mdavis@sterling-heights.net.