Charles Ramsey has been the commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department for six years. He assumed this position in 2007, and recently said in an interview that crime of almost every type has dropped since he took over. In the past year, crime experienced an aggregate decrease of more than 5%.
The most notable drop is the homicide rate, which has decreased 36% in the six years that Ramsey has been in charge, including a 25% drop from 2012 to 2013. The statistics also show an 8% drop in aggravated assaults involving the use of a firearm. This statistic is significant because it is directly tied to the homicide rate. If homicides are down but shootings have become more frequent, it indicates that there has not been a drop in illegal activity at all. Instead, it means that emergency medical personnel have simply become more adept at saving the lives of people who have suffered gunshot wounds.
Property crime has also dropped, with a 6% decrease in the last year. Robberies are down 9% in the last year and approximately 17% in the six years since Ramsey became the police commissioner. In fact, illegal activity has decreased across the board, with a 6% total decrease in the year 2013 as compared to the year 2012.
However, there is an exception. One significant increase in Philadelphia occurred in the area of rapes, which have increased by a double-digit percentage since Ramsey took over. However, there may be a mitigating factor: the statutory definition of rape has been broadened in the last decade, meaning that more actions fall under the definition now than they did 10 years ago. According to Ramsey, if the old statutory definition was still in effect, there would be a 10% decrease in rapes, as opposed to an increase.
Victims of sexual crimes should always contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer to ensure their rights are protected to the fullest extent. Philadelphia attorney Edith Pearce, who was designated as a Super Lawyer, one of the top 5% of Pennsylvania attorneys, can help. Give The Pearce Law Firm a call for a free consultation.