Chicago Gun Owners

CHICAGO – Today Superintendent Jody P. Weis discussed preliminary crime statistics for the month of November during a press conference at Chicago Police Headquarters. Total crime was down Citywide by 3.8 percent, supported by a nearly 10 percent decline in overall violent crime and more than 2 percent dip in property offenses. The crime drops through the end of November marked the 23rd consecutive month of lower overall crime in the City.

Twelve fewer murders through the end of November realized a 2.8 percent drop that maintained a pace for closing the year with fewer incidents than were reported in years with historically low murder totals, including 2007 – the lowest in the City since 1965. The number of murders committed with a firearm dropped by 4.6 percent compared to last year during the same time. Through the end of November, Chicago Police seized more than 7,400 guns off of the street.

Two newsworthy incidents in November demonstrated the dedicated efforts of Chicago Police officers to recover firearms and pursue violent criminals. On November 6th, after hearing shots fired in the Logan Square community, a Grand Central (Area Five) Detective and Shakespeare (14th) District Officers worked together to apprehend the 36-year-old convicted felon who was responsible for the incident. In an unrelated event, Austin (15th) District officers arrested a 37-year-old armed robber and police impersonator who victimized two employees in a business on the City’s West Side on November 24th. Firearms were recovered in both of these incidents.

“Every day Chicago Police officers face incredible risks to defeat the opportunity for even one person to be a victim of a crime in the City,” said Superintendent Jody P. Weis. “We are pleased with fewer incidents of crime that have been reported throughout the year, yet realize there is more work to be done, and that we must have the community as a partner to have a greater effect” he added.

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November 2010 Preliminary Crime Statistics

Superintendent Weis also praised the courageous community members who stepped forward in the Officer Flisk homicide investigation.  “I have said it many times, and some brave community members recently reaffirmed it–an allegiance between the community and law enforcement is more powerful than any criminal entity out there,” Superintendent Jody P. Weis stated. “I see a crack in the code of silence…now let’s shatter it,” he added.

Violent index crimes were down across the board in all categories, including drops in aggravated assaults at nearly 12 percent, robberies at 11 percent, and aggravated batteries at just over 7 percent. Incidents of criminal sexual assaults declined by 8.5 percent through the end of November, with Chicago Police making notable arrests during the month highlighting aggressive investigation of these crimes.

On November 9th, Harrison (Area Four) Detectives charged a 44-year-old man with various criminal sexual assault charges after DNA evidence led investigators to the identity of the offender responsible for assaulting two teenage girls. Two days later, Near North (18th) District officers apprehended a 26-year-old man who had attempted to sexually assault a student in a dorm room almost two months earlier. An investigative alert obtained by Belmont (Area Three) Detectives allowed police to process the offender for an attempt criminal sexual assault charge, among other offenses.

Property crimes also showed downward trends through the end of November, with slightly more than a 2 percent drop in index offenses overall compared to last year during the same time. Motor vehicle theft incidents increased by 22.6 percent, and every other property offense decreased, including drops in arson at 12.7 percent, theft at 6.8 percent, and burglary at 2 percent.

Violent Index Crime is down 9.8 percent
Homicide – down 2.8 percent
Criminal Sexual Assault – down 8.5 percent
Robbery – down 11 percent
Aggravated Assault – down 11.9 percent
Aggravated Battery – down 7.1 percent

Property Index Crime is down 2.2 percent
Burglary – down 2 percent
Theft – down 6.8 percent
Motor Vehicle Theft – up 22.6 percent
Arson – down 12.7 percent

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Chicago Police Maintain Overall Crime Drop in August; Violent Crimes Down in 23 of City’s 25 Police Districts

Assistant Superintendent James B. Jackson discussed preliminary crime statistics for the month of August in a press conference today, announcing that total crime dropped by 4.5 percent Citywide, supported by an 11 percent decrease in violent crimes and more than 2 percent decline in property offenses. Nearly every category of index offenses tapered in the City’s 20th consecutive month of overall crime drops.

Murder was the only violent crime to show an uptick in August, which followed a drop in July that ended a four-month consecutive increase. A total of 313 murder victims raised the total by five victims compared to last year, resulting in a 1.6 percent increase. Assistant Superintendent Jackson pledged the committed efforts of Chicago Police to continuing strategic policing and the building of cooperative relationships with community members to reverse the marginal increase.

“Any number of homicides is going to be dissatisfying until we see the number at zero,” said Assistant Superintendent Jackson. “No singular approach can drive down crime, and so while we are pleased with successful strategies which have helped crime drop overall across the City, Chicago Police must have the community as partners in this plan,” he added.

Every other violent index offense dropped through the end of August, including criminal sexual assaults by more than 10 percent, robberies by more than 14 percent, and aggravated assaults by nearly 13 percent. Aggravated batteries dropped more than 6 percent. Jackson praised efforts of the Bureau of Patrol and Bureau of Investigative Services, whose strategic missions especially targeted public violence in August.

This included a series of Organized Crime Division missions and a separate, joint law enforcement agency initiative with Chicago Police officers from units in the Bureaus of Patrol and Investigative Services. Combined results yielded more than 170 arrests and $1.7 million in narcotics. Thirty weapons also were seized, contributing to the 5,679 weapons Chicago Police recovered through the end of August – more than 189 more than were seized last year during that time.

Property index offenses dropped in almost every category, with the exception of motor vehicle theft, which was up by about 21 percent. Arson showed the greatest drop at 14.5 percent, followed by theft at more than 7 percent, and burglary at 2 percent.

According to preliminary statistics through the end of August 2010:

Violent Index Crime is down 11 percent
Homicide – up 1.6 percent
Criminal Sexual Assault – down 10.1 percent
Robbery – down 14.1 percent
Aggravated Assault – down 12.9 percent
Aggravated Battery – down 6.1 percent

Property Index Crime is down 2.6 percent
Burglary – down 2 percent
Theft – down 7.1 percent
Motor Vehicle Theft – up 21.2 percent
Arson – down 14.5 percent