We're Number Two!

Atlanta is the nation’s second most dangerous city according to an independent analysis of FBI crime statistics. The ranking, derived by dividing the total crimes detailed in the FBI’s report by city population, put Atlanta’s per-capita crime rate at 16 percent. Memphis claimed the Number One spot at 18 percent.

Violent crime in Atlanta decreased 8.3 percent in 2008 compared with 2007, with 672 fewer such incidents. However, property crimes rose 7.6 percent - burglaries and larcenies were both on the rise, the FBI said. Nationwide, a decrease of 1.6 percent was reported.

After Memphis and Atlanta, America's least safe cities were San Antonio, Detroit and Milwaukee. The safest cites, in order of decreasing crime rate, were:

1. New York City, with a per-capita crime rate of only 4.2 percent;
2. San Jose, Calif.;
3. Los Angeles;
4. San Diego;
5. El Paso, Texas;
6. Honolulu;
7. Denver;
8. Boston;
9. Las Vegas; and
10. Louisville, Ky., which had a 10 percent per-capita crime rate.

Whether perception or reality, crime has become a major concern for Atlantans, and it’s emerged as the leading issue in the upcoming mayoral election.

The head of Atlanta’s Police Foundation said he’s more worried about future results. The city had 1,784 officers in 2008 — “the most officers we ever had,” said David Wilkinson, president and CEO of the APF. “That is why the city had a good year last year with crime statistics. Since that time, with budget cuts and police furloughs, we’re in a very dangerous situation right now.”

Update: The morning after I posted this, the newspaper reported that police found the murdered body of a homeless man behind our local elementary school.