Hughes/Horseshoe Lake News

Survey ranks Arkansas cities for safety

Crime rate shows ‘ marked improvement,’ notes WMPD Chief

news@theeveningtimes.com

People enjoy feeling safe in their homes. A consumer reports company concerned with promoting the home security business analyzes crime reports each year and released its 2016 Arkansas Safest city rankings. The two biggest cities in Crittenden County were included in the report. Both Marion and West Memphis were listed in ratings done by Safewise.

The report classified the 83 largest cities in the State combining the most recent FBI Crime Report from 2014 along with population data. Cities on the list voluntarily reported their statistics to the Feds through the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program and the report took numbers from the preliminary semiannual UCR for the first half of 2014. Cities smaller than 3,000 were excluded from the rankings.

Overall the Delta ranked poorly compared to the rest of the State. East Arkansas cities were ranked near the bottom: Osceola (72), Helena- West Helena (76), Wynne (78), Paragould (79), Newport (80), Trumann (81). Blytheville rounded out the bottom at number 83. The state capital, Little Rock, ranked next to last at 82. Three of the five safest cities were from the northwest corner of the state with Greenbriar tapped for the most safe city for the second year in a row.

Both Marion and West Memphis were also ranked in the bottom half by the company. Marion ranked number 49 and its neighbor West Memphis was 75, ninth from the bottom.

The report looked at violent crimes and property crimes as the basis for the rankings. Violent crime specifically included were aggravated assault, forcible rape, murder and robbery.

Property crimes considered were arson, burglary, larceny- theft, motor vehicle theft. Safewise used the simple formula adding violent crime and property crimes per 1000 residents divided by two to score city safety.

West Memphis Police Chief Donald Oakes said the city crime rate is improving, especially in the violent crime category and pointed out that study result vary widely.

Case in point, another report from city-data.com showed West Memphis had its lowest crime rate in a decade during 2014, a marked improvement from a 2013 Curiosity Aroused survey placing the Gateway City fourth worst for crime in its nationwide survey, which virally swept the Internet.

“The crime rate shows a marked improvement,” said Oakes. “It shows you can’t believe these reports either way because these reports don’t share what algorithm they use. When that site ranked us one of the worst in the country they wouldn’t tell us how they crunched they’re numbers to get that ranking. The methodology changes the rankings. Next month there could be one that comes out that is just the opposite.

Take these lists with a grain of salt.”

Oakes pointed to community satisfaction as the goal and the crime rate is improving.

“What is important is the quality of life of the citizens — if the citizens are happy,” said the chief. “We are seeing a definite decrease in crime, particularly violent crime.”

Oakes noted the arrival of the holiday season and warned that thieves typically

get more active

around Christmas.

“This time of the year, property crimes and scams come with the holidays,” said Oakes. “But our violent crimes have been consistently lower. It is a constant fight and this is home to us. We continue to

do our best.”

By John Rech