Rapes in the District soared by nearly 20 percent in 2010, according to recently released FBI statistics. The FBI’s annual crime statistics show there were 184 rapes in D.C. in 2010, compared with 150 in 2009.
“We are always concerned about crime,” police spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump told The Washington Examiner in an email. “Although we cannot elaborate on our crime fighting efforts, we will continue to educate the community about sexual assaults and provide information about how to prevent becoming a victim.”
| A difference in data |
| FBI rape statistics for D.C.: |
| 2010: 184 |
| 2009: 150 |
| D.C. police rape statistics: |
| 2010: 149 |
| 2009: 134 |
At-large D.C. Councilman Phil Mendelson, who heads the council’s public safety committee, called the increase “troubling.” He added, “it’s hard to explain the cause of the increase. Historically, the crime is underreported.”
Mendelson noted that statistics kept by the District, which account for only the most violent rapes, showed a smaller increase, jumping about 10 percent to 149 in 2010 from 134 in 2009.
“I believe the District’s statistics are more useful,” Mendelson said.
FBI statistics and those of the department have routinely differed. For example, D.C crime statistics show violent crime was down nearly 7 percent in 2010, while FBI statistics show violent crime in the District dropped less than 2 percent from 2009 to 2010.
D.C police union chief Kris Baumann said the difference in reporting damage’s the public’s ability to protect itself.
“A 20 percent increase in rapes without a broad campaign for public safety is an unforgivable failure by law enforcement in this city,” Baumann said.
“The fact that the new mayor has cut the number of police and failed to be transparent about public safety is an ominous sign for this city, ” he added, referencing Mayor Vince Gray’s decision to not fund police Chief Cathy Lanier’s request that the city maintain a sworn police force of 3,800. The budget passed by the council last week will allow the department to shrink below that level by July 2012. Lanier had said that would mean “trouble.”
Crump said it’s “inaccurate” to compare the FBI crime statistics to those kept by the District.
“We encourage the public to report crimes and we publicly report crimes that are reported to us,” Crump said. “It is important that people are aware of what is occurring in their community.”
