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The main goal of a Police Department is to provide its citizens with a safe environment in which to live, work, visit and conduct business. The Bradenton Police Department takes that responsibility very seriously and has made great strides in reducing crime for the past seven years in an effort to make our community safer.
Total Part One Offenses – which includes Murder, Robbery, Rape, Burglary, Larceny, Vehicle Theft and Arson - were reduced by 9.5 percent during the past year of 2010. Of significant note was that there were no murders in the City of Bradenton for 2010, but there was one Homicide investigation that was determined to be Justifiable Homicide.
The reductions for the past seven years are: 2010 down 9.5 percent; 2009 down 4.9 percent; 2008 down 5.1 percent; 2007 down 1.4 percent; 2006 down 3.2 percent; 2005 down 9.9 percent; and 2004 down 7.4 percent. That means that crime in the City of Bradenton has gone down a whopping 41.4 percent since 2003. As good as that is, we still recognize we still have work to do but the figures show that crime in the City of Bradenton is headed in the right direction — DOWN.
That is quite an accomplishment given the current economy, and if you compare what the Bradenton Police Department’s budget is compared to other cities the same size, the city taxpayers are certainly getting a good value for their tax dollar. The police department has been able to do more with fewer officers and money that other cities and still reduce crime every year for the past seven.
Unfortunately, many people still have a perception that the City of Bradenton is crime ridden, but the crime statistics refute that perception. Other cities the same size have significantly more crime than the City of Bradenton. In this age of instant news and sensational headlines, it is certainly understandable why some people have that false perception about crime in the City of Bradenton. The main problem with reporting crime in ‘Bradenton’ is most people do not know the City limits. Therefore, when one reads or hears about a crime in ‘Bradenton’ it is automatically associated with the City, which of course is inaccurate.
Yes, crime is heading in the right direction in the City of Bradenton, but there is more work to be done and the Bradenton Police Department will strive to make our community even safer in 2011.
Michael Radzilowski, Chief of Police
News Section: Law Enforcement
Guest Editorial: Crime Figures in City of Bradenton Do Not Match Perception
Published Thursday, January 6, 2011 2:00 am
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| Bradenton Chief of Police Michael Radzilowski |
Total Part One Offenses – which includes Murder, Robbery, Rape, Burglary, Larceny, Vehicle Theft and Arson - were reduced by 9.5 percent during the past year of 2010. Of significant note was that there were no murders in the City of Bradenton for 2010, but there was one Homicide investigation that was determined to be Justifiable Homicide.
The reductions for the past seven years are: 2010 down 9.5 percent; 2009 down 4.9 percent; 2008 down 5.1 percent; 2007 down 1.4 percent; 2006 down 3.2 percent; 2005 down 9.9 percent; and 2004 down 7.4 percent. That means that crime in the City of Bradenton has gone down a whopping 41.4 percent since 2003. As good as that is, we still recognize we still have work to do but the figures show that crime in the City of Bradenton is headed in the right direction — DOWN.
That is quite an accomplishment given the current economy, and if you compare what the Bradenton Police Department’s budget is compared to other cities the same size, the city taxpayers are certainly getting a good value for their tax dollar. The police department has been able to do more with fewer officers and money that other cities and still reduce crime every year for the past seven.
Unfortunately, many people still have a perception that the City of Bradenton is crime ridden, but the crime statistics refute that perception. Other cities the same size have significantly more crime than the City of Bradenton. In this age of instant news and sensational headlines, it is certainly understandable why some people have that false perception about crime in the City of Bradenton. The main problem with reporting crime in ‘Bradenton’ is most people do not know the City limits. Therefore, when one reads or hears about a crime in ‘Bradenton’ it is automatically associated with the City, which of course is inaccurate.
Yes, crime is heading in the right direction in the City of Bradenton, but there is more work to be done and the Bradenton Police Department will strive to make our community even safer in 2011.
Michael Radzilowski, Chief of Police
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