September 6, 2006

CRIME RATE CUT IN HALF

RAHWAY —Data recently released by the New Jersey State Police reflects a fifty percent reduction in crime in the city from 1991 to 2005.

Statistics from the 2005 Uniform Crime Report show that the city’s crime rate dropped 19 percent between 2004 and 2005 alone, falling from 28.7 to 23.2.

The city’s violent crime rate also retreated in 2005, as compared with the prior year.

These numbers continue the trend of declining crime rates that began after Mayor James J. Kennedy was elected in 1990 and moved to increase police manpower.  In 1991, Kennedy's first year as mayor, there were a total of 1,232 index offenses, including 107 violent crimes, in Rahway for an overall total crime rate of 48.6. The crime rate represents the number of incidents per 1,000 people.

“These numbers are extremely encouraging and show the results of the partnership between the men and women of the Rahway Police Department and our residents and business owners,” said Kennedy. “Crime is everyone’s business, and we all have a responsibility to work towards its elimination. Police Chief Hudak and his department deserve our thanks for continuing to make our streets safer”  

There are more police today than there were in 1990, despite a reduction that followed President Bush's elimination of the federal COPS program.

The COPS program, established by President Clinton's 1994 Crime Bill, funded full time salaries for nine police officers in Rahway.

Eight of those local positions were axed two years ago, after the Republican administration that came into office in 2001 did away with federal funding for the program.

Rahway’s crime rate stands below the Union County average of 3.5 crimes per 1,000 people, a rate that has also decreased between 2004 and 2005.

“We have stepped up our presence around the train station and have recently launched walking patrols downtown that will hopefully continue the progress we’ve made,” said Hudak.  “More residents and business owners are also taking constructive measures to safeguard their property and to be aware when dealing with a suspicious situation.”