Baltimore City is the second most dangerous large city in the country, according to a new study produced with FBI data.
Of cities with populations larger than 500,000, only Detroit?s violent crime rate surpasses Baltimore?s, according to the Morgan Quitno Press? 13th Annual Safest City publication, which was released Monday.
Baltimore ranks the 12th most dangerous city of all sizes, an improvement from last year?s report when Baltimore was ranked sixth. St. Louis is the most dangerous city of all sizes, the report says.
The crime data in the report shows improvement for the city, said Raquel Guillory, spokeswoman for Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley.
“It shows we?re making progress,” she said. “But the job of making Baltimore safer is not done. The mayor came into office with the objective of making Baltimore safer, healthier and cleaner.”
State Del. Jill Carter, D-District 41, said she didn?t see much progress from O?Malley?s police tactics.
“It?s still the most murderous city in the country,” she said, citing Baltimore City?s 269 murders last year ? the highest murder rate of any large city. “I don?t see where the progress is. Even if there is a minor level of progress, we don?t feel safer.”
The report simply demonstrates O?Malley?s lack of leadership in Baltimore, said Shareese DeLeaver, spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich.
“This report cements what Marylanders already know: Martin O?Malley has failed Baltimore City in improving public safety,” she said.
Violent crime has reduced during O?Malley?s tenure in office, from 16,003 offenses in 2000 to 11,248 in 2005.
But murders have remained about the same, from 261 in 2000 to 269 last year.
Guillory said O?Malley has made steady progress.
“Ten years ago, the city was facing serious issues and those issues aren?t going away overnight,” she said. “But you can see the progress being made year after year after year.”
