Crime & Safety
Prince George's Crime Rates Hit Historic Lows in 2013
Overall crime in Prince George's County is down 27 percent over 2010.
Although New Year's Day saw two murders in Prince George's County, crime plummeted to record lows in 2013 in Prince George's County for the second consecutive year.
Crime has been dropping year over year in Prince George's since 2010. Homicides are down 38 percent over 2010 numbers, and violent crimes are down 26 percent over the same year.
"While a 38% drop in homicides in three years is astounding, this police department is not yet satisfied and we are not done yet,” said Prince George's County Police Chief Mark Magaw in a press conference Thursday. “We will continue working every day and night to keep our communities safe."
Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker and other officials gave part of the credit for the crime reductions to the county's Transforming Neighborhood Initiative. The TNI program was launched in 2012 and focuses on uplifting Prince George's County neighborhoods that are facing large economic, health and safety challenges. In the six neighborhoods targeted in 2013, crime decreased 12.6 percent over 2012.
“We are working tirelessly to keep crime down in this county and improve communities and we are doing it by focusing on people and neighborhoods,” Prince George's County Executive Rusher Baker said Thursday at a press conference.
"Today we are here to tell the region and the state that Prince George’s County is a safe place to live, invest, work and visit," he added.
Officials also credited the county's innovative methods of engaging citizens in crime prevention, and the coordination between law enforcement an public service agencies for reducing and preventing crime.
“The progress we have made over the last three years is the type of results our citizens deserve and these gains are sustainable because of the strategies we have in place and the great teamwork we enjoy," Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said at Thursday's press conference.
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley also attended Thursday's press conference, and applauded Prince George's County for its efforts and the strides it has made towards reducing crime.
"These graphs are not just moving in the right direction," O'Malley said. "They are being moved."
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