BlackburnNews.com file photo of the Detroit River on February 12, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)BlackburnNews.com file photo of the Detroit River on February 12, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Windsor

Criminal Homicides In Detroit Lowest Since 1966

The Detroit Police Department credits new initiatives for a 9% drop in their criminal homicide rate last year.

The city ended the year with 267 homicides, the lowest level in 51 years.

The department says nearly every category of major crime fell over the past two years since the city adopted strategies like Project Green Light, Ceasefire Detroit, and its Real Time Crime Centre.

Total violent crimes were down 12%, non-fatal shootings fell 19%, and carjackings dropped 41%.

Two years ago, eight gas stations installed high definition cameras to address carjackings. Since then, 231 businesses, including restaurants and party stores, have introduced them. As a result, police say the number of carjackings fell from 532 in 2015, to 303 last year.

Ceasefire Detroit was the central strategy in the city's plan to lower fatal and non-fatal shootings by targeting violence perpetrated by gangs. There have been 118 federal indictments against members of several major gangs including the 7 Mile Bloods, Playboy Crips, and the Rollin' 60s Crips.

The Detroit Police Department has hired more than 500 new officers and moved 100 from desk duty to the street. By the end of 2018, it plans to hire another 200 officers.

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