Data has been released from the Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation – NIBRS 2021 Crime Data Explorer, and the city of Sterling Heights is once again noted as the safest big city (over 100,000 population) in Michigan.
Sterling Heights was ranked safest among these communities in both total property crimes and violent crimes, as well as safest overall.
Sterling Heights recorded the lowest violent crime rate among all Michigan communities over 100,000 population at 225 total violent crimes for the year, a 5% reduction from last year which is 31% lower than Ann Arbor and Clinton Township and 68% lower than Warren. Sterling Heights also recorded the lowest property crime rate among all Michigan communities over 100,000 population at 2,088 for the year, which is 1% lower than Clinton Township, 2% lower than Ann Arbor and 43% lower than Warren.
Sterling Heights is already one of the safest cities in the nation among cities with populations over 100,000. These most recent FBI crime statistics show a continued trend of safety in Sterling Heights.
“Calling ourselves a ‘safe’ city isn’t just part of our brand, it’s something we live and breathe,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael C. Taylor. “Not only is this proven by crime stats like these, but it’s underscored by resident feedback we receive and the numbers of families and businesses that continue to choose Sterling Heights as a place to live, work and engage.”
The City’s 2021 resident survey revealed 97% of respondents said they feel safe in their neighborhood during the day and 86% are satisfied with the overall quality of police protection in Sterling Heights, which is 16% above the regional average and 23% higher than the national average. In addition, 75% are satisfied with the City’s efforts to prevent crime, and 74% are satisfied with the quality of their interaction with the Sterling Heights Police Department.
“I’m so proud of every single Sterling heights Police Officer that has dedicated their career, passion and law enforcement expertise to help ensure Sterling Heights continues to be an incredibly safe city to raise a family or own a business,” said Sterling Heights Police Chief Dale Dwojakowski. “We truly have some of the best police officers in the State of Michigan, and their efforts have a direct impact on the 135,000 residents that call Sterling Heights home.”
Over the past few years, several factors have helped decrease crime in Sterling Heights:
- Funding was approved by City Council in 2021 that allowed for the addition of seven new officers who are dedicated to proactively targeting crime through the City and are engaged in additional community policing efforts and neighborhood patrols.
- Sterling Heights Police Department has led the way as a pioneer in innovative substance abuse programs like the Comeback Quick Response Team and the new Re-Direct drug diversion programs. These model programs have been immensely successful in targeting the root cause of most crime – substance abuse – and getting addicts into treatment rather than repeating the cycle of incarceration, relapse and additional crime. Many other departments across the state have sought the leadership of SHPD in implementing the same programs in their own organizations.
- Sterling Heights Police Department became a fully accredited police agency from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MLEAC). The MLEAC accreditation is a voluntary statewide law enforcement accreditation program formed through a partnership between The Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police and the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association. The accreditation is a significant professional achievement acknowledging the agency has met 108 different national standards for operational effectiveness.
- Sterling Heights Police Department was the first department in Macomb County, Mich. to launch a “transparency dashboard” accessible under the police department section of the City’s website. The dashboard allows the public to quickly and conveniently view up-to-date information regarding the department’s interaction with the community on items like calls for service, citations issued, arrests made, use of force or complaints.
- Sterling Heights Police Department was one of the first departments in the area to hire a full-time social worker who has been instrumental in connecting residents in need to a variety of resources that can reduce the stress placed upon them.
2021 VIOLENT CRIMES
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up