MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission has released the countywide and city of Memphis crime statistics for February 2015.
The reported major violent crime rate for February 2015 was down 4.9 percent countywide and 4.8 percent in the city of Memphis, compared to the same period in 2014.
The reported major violent crime rate was down 27.4 percent countywide and 23.1 percent in Memphis, compared to the same period in 2006, which is the baseline year for Operation: Safe Community.
Major violent crimes include murder, rape, aggravated assault and robbery.
The major property crime rate dropped even more dramatically.
Countywide, the rate of major property crimes (burglaries, auto thefts, and other theft offenses) dropped 12.1 percent in 2015 compared to 2014 and 41.5 percent compared to 2006.
In Memphis, the decline in 2015 compared to 2014 was 10 percent and 38.9 percent compared to 2006.
The reported domestic violence crime rate for February 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was down 11 percent countywide and 10.6 percent in Memphis.
While data going back to 2006 is not available for reported domestic violence offenses, Operation: Safe Community in 2011 began tracking this crime category and uses it as a baseline year.
Compared to the 2011 baseline year, the reported domestic violence crime rate was down 20.2 percent countywide and 20.3 percent in Memphis.
Domestic violence offenses include homicides, all assaults, kidnapping/abduction, and all forcible and non-forcible sex offenses, based upon victim to offender relationships.
Ben Adams CEO of Baker Donelson and Chairman of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission observed, “I am encouraged by the second month of reported crime rate decreases in major crimes and property crimes for 2015. Public Safety is a big factor in attracting individuals and businesses to Memphis and Shelby County and continued downward trends will assist us in our efforts.”
Tenn. Commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security Bill Gibbons, who chairs Operation: Safe Community, said, “Of course, I am pleased with the progress we are making, but there is still more to accomplish.”
He continued, “To realize further reductions in the areas of domestic violence, major violent crimes and major property crimes requires more effective use of resources, continued vigilant employment of data-driven policing strategies, and accountable partnerships with community agencies.”
The Operation: Safe Community monthly crime trends report uses data reported by local enforcement agencies to Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System, which was developed and is maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
An incident is defined in TIBRS as “one or more offenses committed by the same offender, or group of offenders acting in concert, at the same time and place.”
The domestic violence reported offenses, however, uniquely refer to a victim count versus an incident count.
All state and local law enforcement agencies must report crime data to TIBRS on a monthly basis. The crime categories used in the report are designed to parallel the categories used by the FBI in its annual UCR report.
Operation: Safe Community (OSC), spearheaded by the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, is a historic crime reduction initiative involving an organized network of more than 100 partner organizations.
It is the public safety pillar of Memphis Fast Forward, an action plan for improving economic prosperity and quality of life in Memphis and Shelby County.
See more at memphisfastforward.com/publicsafety.
Operation: Safe Com-munity is chaired by Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Bill Gibbons.
Memphis Shelby Crime Commission is an independent, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that “quarterbacks” the work of the Operation: Safe Community plan and its partners. It is governed by a board of 50 public and private sector leaders, most of whom are actively involved in leading initiatives of the OSC plan.
It is funded through the contributions of many private sector donors. Ben Adams, CEO of Baker Donelson law firm, serves as chairman. Michelle Fowlkes is executive director. See more at memphiscrime.org.
