Richmond drops to 49 in crime list

By: Reed Williams | Times-Dispatch
Published: November 25, 2008

Richmond is dropping further down the list of most dangerous cities.

Based on 2007 data, it now ranks as the nation's 49th most-dangerous city, an improvement from its 29th ranking in 2006, according to annual rankings released yesterday by Washington-based CQ Press.

The newest ranking is a significant improvement from 2005, when the city was ranked fifth most-dangerous by Morgan Quitno Press, a research firm purchased last year by CQ Press, a publishing company.

Reacting to the latest ranking, Richmond Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood praised his officers and attributed the improved ranking to collaboration with city prosecutors and a sector approach to law enforcement.

He also credited a fugitive and firearms initiative, an anti-gang program and efforts to reduce truancy. Norwood, who was sworn in as chief on Nov. 3, said in a statement that Richmond no longer is on track to have the "dubious distinction of one of the 'most dangerous' cities."

Based on 2007 FBI crime statistics, CQ Press ranked 385 cities with populations of 75,000 or more based on crimes per 100,000 people.

The survey ranks cities based on six crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.

The ranking of some cities, Richmond among them, is skewed by the fact that surrounding counties aren't included in their boundaries.

According to 2008 Richmond statistics, the number of homicides is down 33 percent compared to the same period in 2007, rapes are down 11 percent, commercial robberies down 48 percent, individual robberies down 16 percent, and aggravated assaults down 8 percent.

"There has been a lot of work done making the city safer each and every day, and I think what needs to be done is we need to build on the successes . . . and take public safety to the next level," said Richmond police Capt. John Venuti.

In the latest rankings, the safest city was Ramapo, N.Y., and the most dangerous was New Orleans.
Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or rwilliams@timesdispatch.com.