Some good news to report from crime-plagued Camden, N.J.: With an elaborate PowerPoint presentation to back them up, Camden police officials released statistics showing a 23 percent drop in crime in the last six months, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Last year, a ranking by the Kansas-based firm Morgan Quitno gave Camden a black eye by labeling it the nation’s “Most Dangerous City.” The city, which has long had a reputation as one of the nation’s toughest, had a murder rate that was several times the national average.
The next national ranking will reflect only 2004 statistics, when crime figures in Camden had not improved. The bad publicity came when Camden was in the midst of a major redevelopment push. “It’s important, if we’re in this redevelopment phase and if we’re going to attract people, then we have to tackle crime,” said Police Chief Edwin Figueroa. “I think we’ve done an outstanding job.”
Link: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/12128402.htm