Crime in Washington is the lowest it has been since the 1960s, according to an analysis by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The District reported nearly 33,000 serious crimes last year, the lowest annual total since the FBI revised its reporting system in 1969, according to the report that focused on D.C. crime trends and police personnel for the years 2001 to 2005.
Although not included in the study, the 2006 homicide figure likely will be the lowest annual total since 1985 and the second-lowest since 1966.
“D.C. is a safer city today than it has been in decades,” Police Chief Charles Ramsey said in a written statement. “At the same time, our department is stronger and more professional.”
Although crime decreased between 2001 and 2005, violent juvenile crime increased dramatically. The arrests of juveniles rose by nearly 8 percent, but the number of juveniles arrested for robberies doubled and the number of arrests for weapons offenses rose 36 percent.
Among the findings:
» Traffic fatalities declined from 72 in 2001 to 49 last year, which coincided with the installation of the photo radar cameras.
» Guns were used in four out of five homicides. July and November were the deadliest months; February and May had the fewest.
» The diversity of the police force is similar to the city itself: Sixty-three percent of its members are black and 7 percent are Hispanic or Asian. Nearly one-fourth of its 3,800 sworn officers are female, including the next D.C. police chief, Cmdr. Cathy Lanier.
