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Between 2009 and 2018, crime decreased by 50.9 percent in the city. Similarly, violent crimes dropped by 48.2 percent.
These statistics come from a decade-long study conducted by the State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
City officials say that the report, issued Monday, April 1, is indicative of success for the police department’s tactics as well as the county’s alternative crime-prevention programs like the Stabilization Center. Increased community involvement in reporting incidents is also credited for the dropoff in city crime rates.
The report was initially created through the state’s Gun Involved Elimination Initiative (GIVE). Poughkeepsie is just one of 20 GIVE jurisdictions throughout 17 counties included in the report. In the past decade, the areas saw a 29 percent decrease in violent crimes.
As a whole, burglaries in the city dropped by 69 percent, larcenies decreased by 45.9 percent and robberies dropped by 71.4 percent.
However, the number of reported rapes has increased in the last 10 years. While the state notes that the definition of rape was expanded between 2014 and 2015, the total jumped from 13 to 32 in those years alone.
Mayor Rob Rolison emphasizes that despite the strong overall results, the city still has a lot of progress to make.
“Just because this shows a great trend that we are happy, encouraged and proud of, it doesn't mean we will stop being diligent to provide the police department with the resources to do the job," he said.
For more information about the results of the report, click here.
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