International spotlight shines on Aurora crime plunge
As Chief of Police of Illinois ’ second largest City , Greg Thomas has a tough job .
That job was even more demanding during the first 8 weeks of 2013 when he was besieged with interview requests from Chicago media to discuss Aurora ’ s first murder-free year in over six decades .
For Chief Thomas and Mayor Tom Weisner , a request and subsequent story published by Bloomberg News was especially substantial as it cast Aurora on an international stage .
Both the Chief and Mayor credited the drop to the work of Aurora Police officers teaming with law enforcement agencies at every level along with strong community outreach involving neighborhood and youth groups .
The February 14 story can be accessed at Bloomberg ’ s website : www . bloomberg . com .
Final 2012 Crime Stats Released
Aurora ’ s final 2012 crime stats showed drops in both violent and property crimes as well as an all-time low in confirmed firearm discharges .
“ While the City is proud of finishing 2012 without a single murder , these statistics illustrate an even more impressive picture of the progress we have made against all major crime ,” said Mayor Weisner .
Aside from the murder-free year , robberies and aggravated batteries fell 13.79 % and 10.34 % respectively . Confirmed firearm discharges were down 1.7 % in 2012 to 59 , the lowest number since 1996 when Aurora Police first began keeping those statistics and 357 were reported . Criminal sexual assaults were the only violent crime that increased last year by seven incidents , or 12.07 %.
Decreases in three of four property crime categories led to a property crime reduction of 6.43 %. Thefts decreased 8.94 %, motor vehicle thefts by 5.97 %, and burglaries by 0.32 %. Arsons increased by nine over 2011 or 45 %.
Long-term crime trends as measured by the City ’ s crime rate per 100,000 population continued to plummet in all of the major crime categories . Violent crime is down 39.06 % over 5 years , 45.72 % over 10 years , and 68.39 % over 20 years . Over the same periods , property crime is down 27.27 %, 47.76 %, and 66.76 %. Overall crime is down in Aurora by 29.12 % since 2007 ; 47.50 % since 2002 ; and 66.99 % since 1992 .
Rate per 100,000 poplulation
Officers honored for heroic acts
Seven Aurora Police officers received Medals of Valor during a ceremony in May for helping save the life of 14 year old Annie Prosser who was trapped in a vehicle that had crashed into a Far East side retention pond .
Special Operations Investigators Greg Christoffel , Ed Doepel , Nick Gartner , Jeff Hahn , Erik Swastek , Josh Sullivan , and Officer Chris Coronado each received the department ’ s highest honor , which recognizes officers who demonstrate outstanding acts of bravery and heroism performed in the line of duty which puts their own lives at extreme personal risk .
Aurora Firefighters Brett Svedsen , Dan Ahasic , Dan Kveton , Tom Contreras , Jerry White and Lt . Kris Tappendorf were also recognized for their efforts at the ceremony and will receive formal awards in October .
Speaking of heroics , Detectives John Munn and Darrell Moore were named both the Aurora Police Department ’ s 2012 Co- Employees of the Year and the Exchange Club of Aurora ’ s Police Officers of the Year . They were honored for their efforts last year that led to a former Aurora man being freed from prison after it was discovered that he had not been involved in a murder for which he had been convicted in 2002 .
City of Aurora
20 Year Crime Trend
Total Crimes Per 100,000 Population
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
6,364.2
4,000.7
2,963.7
1992 2002 2007 2011 2012
2,254.7 2 , 100 . 6
0
City of Aurora www . aurora-il . org
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