Detroit Schools Report Overall Crime Dropping In District; Only 545 Incidents In 6 Months
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - The Detroit Public Schools is reporting that overall crime is dropping in the district.
Officials said Thursday that there were 545 incidents reported in schools and buildings from September through February, compared to 687 over the same period the previous year.
Here's a breakdown of the numbers:
- Misdemeanor assaults -- down 10% from 97 to 87
- Felony assaults -- down 9% from 22 to 20
- Sexual crimes -- down 22% from 18 to 14
- Threat reports -- down 3.7% from 27 to 26
- Violation of knife ordinance -- down 42% from 7 to 4
- Stolen vehicles -- down 12.5% from 8 to 7
- Breaking and entering/larceny of a vehicle -- down 30% from 39 to 27
.
The district says the decreases come as DPS launched Restorative Practices in every school -- a national program designed to build a positive school climate and culture.
Detroit Schools Police Chief Stacy Brackens says his officers are working with residents, principals, parents, students and other police agencies to keep school buildings and campuses safe.
"We know that we cannot do this work alone. That's why we have expanded our collaboration with key stakeholders not only within the DPS family...but among outside partners and police agencies," Brackens, who took the helm of the department in October 2014, said in a statement.
Sheryl Jones, Director of DPS's Office of Social Studies, said the improvement in campus culture could also be attributed to Crime Stoppers' Project Safe Campus initiative.
"The reported tips to Crime Stoppers have tripled already this year from last year during the same timeframe," Jones said. "We've had Project Safe Campus assemblies at nearly every high school, and Crime Stoppers normally receives tips within 24 hours of an assembly."
The assemblies serve as a great deterrent because students know that someone may anonymously report their misconduct, she said. Tips have been provided regarding drugs, bullying, vandalism and more.
While parents indicate they generally feel schools are safe, a 2013-14 survey of more than 7,000 DPS parents showed many were more concerned about the routes that students must travel going to and from school.
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