The number of offenses for most serious crimes in St. Paul is down this year compared with this time a year ago. And one of the big reasons for that, Police Chief Tom Smith said Thursday, is the help his officers are receiving from citizens.
To say thanks, the St. Paul Police Department is hosting its first "Safe & Sound" community appreciation day Saturday at Midway Stadium.
"We can't do our job without the community," Smith said, adding that he's extremely proud of the "dynamic relationship" between his officers and residents.
Not including arson, overall serious crimes, such as homicide, aggravated assault and robbery, dropped by 8 percent this year compared with a year ago. The largest dip came in the category of residential burglaries, which fell more than 24 percent, according to crime statistics through mid-September.
"This has been one of the best summers that we've had in a long time," Smith said.
Smith said that the weekly Safe Summer Nights barbecues and door-knocking efforts by officers have helped build relationships, both between residents and with the police.
"I think it brought neighbors out. Neighbors meeting neighbors and then working with us is a recipe for success," Smith said.
Community ambassadors — who patrolled the neighborhoods and tried to intervene with youths — played a "major role" in helping to reduce crimes committed by young people, Smith said. Addressing such crime had been a high community and department priority after a deadly shooting and near fatal beating in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood last summer.
