In the past two years, violent crime reports have declined by 36.8% in Prince William County, Virginia. According to the Year-End Statistics report released today by Prince William County Police Department violent crime plunged 21.8% in 2008 compared to 2007 numbers. This follows a 19.3% between the 2007 and 2006 numbers. The crimes defined as “Part I Violent Crimes,” includes Murder, Rape, Aggravated Assault, and Robbery. The steep decline this year was driven by a 36.5% drop in aggravated assault and an 8.8% drop in robberies.
“There are many reasons we’ve seen two consecutive sharp declines in violent crimes in PWC,” said Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart. “First, we must credit the outstanding work of our sworn officers and the men and women who support them, especially Chief Charles T. Deane. They are doing an incredible job and in this tough economic climate, they are making due with less.”
“Second, The Board of County Supervisors and the Citizens of Prince William County have been committed to increasing the ratio of sworn officers per capita in Prince William County. Despite this clear trend that our streets are becoming safer, we cannot lose sight of our support of our Police Department, Sheriff’s office, and all our public safety officers.”
Noting stagnant or slightly increasing violent crime rates in neighboring jurisdictions, Stewart added: “Of course, our unique policy on criminal illegal aliens is clearly producing results. Prince William County stands out amongst the large localities in the region where conditions are actually improving in this worsening economy.”
"Our policy is intended to be preventative. When you have a chance to remove a criminal from your community, you should take it, or you bear part of the blame for their next crime. Arresting, identifying, and deporting today’s “Public Drunkenness” offender is another tool we have given our excellent Police Department in preventing tomorrow’s Aggravated Assault.”
“There have been some high profile murders in our county, and they have hit us all hard. Our innovative policy on criminal illegal aliens has drawn a lot of attention, and with the eyes of the world upon them, there has not been on substantiated claim of racial profiling or intolerance among our sworn officers. I commend the Police Department and Chief Deane for continuing their excellent work. They are keeping all law abiding members of our community safe.”
Prince William County, Virginia has a population of nearly 400,000 and is located approximately 20 miles south of Washington D.C.
Since July 10, 2007 the Prince William Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center has issued 1,606 detainers under the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement 287(g) program. The ADC has transferred 1,506 of those inmates to ICE.
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