City’s Crime Rate Has Plunged Since ‘08
Sugar Land is touting new statistics that show it as one of the safest cities in America. The annual report from Sugar Land Police shows the city's average crime rate has dropped by 18% since 2008. The rate actually went up by 8.6% last year, but that was from an all-time low for the city in 2011. In fact, the 2012 rate was still the second lowest rate in the modern era. "Sugar Land was ranked the second-safest city in Texas, so we're really excited about that," says Police Chief Doug Brinkley.
Brinkley credits several factors for the decline, including increased enforcement, more officers on the street, and better technology. He also cites communication with the public. "Educational initiatives have really been one of the biggest things we've done as of late," he says. "Really just trying to make our residents know what they can do to limit or avoid being victims of crime." Chief Brinkley is also proud that the city's average emergency response time has declined from nearly five minutes in 2009 to 2:45 in 2012. "Those are calls where there is an imminent threat, someone's life is in danger, or a crime is being committed right there," he says.
Nevertheless, Chief Brinkley notes the increase in crime last year, driven mostly by a rise in residential burglaries. To that end, police plan increased neighborhood patrols and use of forensic evidence in burglary cases to catch serial criminals. But Brinkley says they will also launch a public awareness campaign. "If you have an alarm in your home, please use it...if you don't, think about installing one...lock your doors, lock your windows...common sense stuff like that." It's all part of keeping Sugar Land at or near the top of the safest cities list. In the CQ Press 2013 City Crime Rankings List, Sugar Land ranked as the second-safest city in Texas and the 20th safest in the country among mid-size cities.
Check out the CQ Press 2013 City Crime Ranking Report here.
