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~ In a recent press release, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones announced the release of the "State of Public Safety 2025" report, which highlights the city's successful efforts in reducing crime and improving public safety. The report showcases a 15% decrease in all crime and the lowest number of homicides since 2013, as well as a clearance rate that surpasses the national average.

According to Mayor Jones, this report provides transparency and insight into the city's crime reduction strategies and their effectiveness. She also emphasized the city's commitment to continue using these methods to further decrease crime in 2025. This includes hiring and training more officers and focusing on prevention, intervention, and enforcement.

However, despite these positive developments, there are concerns about potential interference from politicians in Jefferson City. Today, they will discuss taking away local control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and giving it to politicians who do not live in the city. This move is seen as purely political and not based on improving public safety, especially considering that Kansas City – the only police department under state control – has struggled for years to decrease homicides.

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The "State of Public Safety 2025" report is available for public viewing at a provided link. Some notable highlights from the report include a 50% decrease in homicides in specific neighborhoods where outreach from trusted messengers was combined with enforcement and resources. Additionally, through engagement with youth, there was a 6% decrease in juvenile shooting victims compared to last year and a significant 46% decrease compared to 2022.

The report also sheds light on preventable crimes such as vehicle thefts – nearly half of which could have been avoided if drivers had removed their key fobs or did not leave their cars running. In terms of traffic violations, SLMPD issued over 27,000 tickets last year for offenses such as red light violations and speeding. The department also increased joint operations with the Missouri State Highway Patrol to enforce traffic laws.

Under Mayor Jones' administration, there has been a significant increase in spending on youth programming – over 200% in just a few years. This includes keeping recreation centers open later and on weekends to keep young people engaged and off the streets. The city's year-round Youth Jobs program has also seen success, with 233 young people completing the program last year and gaining valuable work experience and support services.

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The report also highlights the impact of the Behavioral Health Bureau, which was established under Mayor Jones. The bureau has trained over 600 citizens and provided $3.2 million in funding to community organizations working on behavioral health.

In terms of emergency response, the city has made significant improvements in answering calls promptly. The report shows that over 75% of calls are now answered within the first 10 seconds, compared to just over 50% before.

Finally, it is worth noting that 30% of homicides committed in St. Louis involve either a victim or suspect from outside the city. This further emphasizes the need for local control of the police department and tailored solutions for St. Louis' unique challenges.

Overall, the "State of Public Safety 2025" report showcases the city's progress in reducing crime and improving public safety through a comprehensive approach. It serves as evidence that local control is crucial for effective policing and that political interference could hinder these efforts.

Filed Under: Government, City

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