FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chief Ronal Serpas today announced that overall major crime in Nashville fell for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year during 2008 to the lowest level in 18 years.  Last year’s major crime total was 2.3% below that of 2007, and 14% below 2003’s crime total. Five of the seven major crime reporting categories reflected reductions last year.  Violent and property crime both decreased in 2008 by 5.2% and 1.5% respectively.

Robbery last year declined 8.6% to its lowest level since 2004; Rape declined 6.5% to its lowest level since 1980; Aggravated Assault declined 3.7% to its lowest level since 1992; Larceny declined 0.12% to its lowest level since 1991; and Motor Vehicle Theft declined 17.5% to its lowest level since 1985.

Criminal Homicide last year increased by one case (1.4%).  Burglary remained unchanged from 2007 and continues to be at its lowest level since 1968.

 Chief Serpas presented the 2008 crime report to Mayor Karl Dean prior to the beginning of the police department’s weekly Compstat meeting, which today was held at David Lipscomb University.

“Five consecutive years of crime reduction is a historic accomplishment for Nashville,” Mayor Dean said.  “I commend Chief Serpas for his leadership and commitment to our city, and the dedicated men and women of our police department who work every day to make our city safer.  Public safety directly impacts our city’s overall success—our quality of life and our appeal to businesses and tourists.”

 "While we are certain to face difficult financial decisions in the months ahead, I remain committed to the priority of our city’s public safety needs,” Dean said.

The 2008 overall crime rate, which is based on Nashville’s population estimates, was the lowest since 1985.  The violent crime rate last year was the lowest since 1989.  The property crime rate was the lowest since 1979.  The auto theft rate was the lowest in the history of the Metropolitan Government.

“Talented, dedicated men and women in all components of the police department have worked extraordinarily hard to bring our city a half decade of crime reduction,” Chief Serpas said.  “That work covers the full range from answering calls for service, to proactive enforcement in neighborhoods, to criminal investigations, to ensuring that officers in the field have the vital information they need.  Still, we would not be successful without the tremendous support of Mayor Dean, the Metro Council, business owners and the thousands of citizens taking part in Neighborhood Watch Groups throughout Nashville.”

 However, Serpas warned that the significant impact repeat offenders continue to have on Nashville’s families will be a formidable obstacle to crime reduction efforts in the future.

“Nearly one third of the 14,000 persons arrested in 2008 for violent crime, a drug offense, or a weapons violation were convicted felons who refused to be rehabilitated,” Serpas said.  “The Public Safety Coalition, made up of Tennessee’s police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors, will continue asking the governor and state legislature to reform sentencing laws for the protection of all citizens.”

 One coalition backed proposal expected to be introduced during the current legislative session would change the crime of aggravated robbery from a class “B” to a class “A” felony, essentially doubling the punishment range from 8-12 years to 15-25 years.

As for juvenile crime, Chief Serpas called for parents and community leaders to actively join Mayor Dean’s efforts to reduce the dropout rate by emphasizing the vital importance of education.  Serpas noted that juvenile violence, particularly robbery offenses, were at an intolerable level in 2008.  A total of 156 juveniles were charged with robbery last year and represented 31.1% of all robbery arrests made by the Metropolitan Police Department.  Eighty-five percent of those 156 juveniles had been arrested previously and had amassed 1,336 charges in their backgrounds

Final crime tabulations for 2008 show that five of the six police precincts recorded crime reductions.  The East Precinct led the way with an 11.4% decrease; the West Precinct had an 8.4% decline; the Central Precinct had a 4.1% decline; and the South & North Precincts both had 1.6% reductions.  The Hermitage Precinct experienced a 10.4% crime increase.

 On the drug and prostitution front, precinct-based undercover officers during 2008 charged 5,778 persons with mostly narcotic and prostitution offenses, a 13% increase over 2007.  Those detectives alone seized 378 firearms, 257 pounds of cocaine and 1,277 pounds of marijuana last year. 

The Operation Safer Streets gang enforcement initiative continues to be tremendously successful in terms of enforcement and intelligence gathering.  During 2008, that initiative was responsible for charges against 3,798 persons, 51 gun seizures, and the service of 751 outstanding warrants.     

 Traffic deaths last year totaled 72, a 2.7% reduction from 2007.  A significant concern is that victims in more than half of the fatal crashes where seatbelts were available (55%) chose not to wear them.  

 The number of DUI arrests in 2008 increased by 12% and totaled 5,595, the highest number in more than 15 years.  Injury collisions declined 7.6% last year, marking five consecutive years of injury accident reduction.

Metro police officers made 298,935 motor vehicle stops during 2008, a 14% increase over 2007.  Motorists received warnings 53% of the time.

“Our officers and professional support staff absolutely rose to the challenge last year, and their level of dedication and service has continued into 2009,” Serpas said.  “In the coming months, we will make every effort to build on our successes through proactive strategies implemented by precinct and component commanders, coupled with close community partnerships and an aggressive hiring program that, with the recruit class beginning February 17, will bring the force to full staffing for the first time in more than five years.”