Middletown’s crime rate dropped to its lowest level in more than 25 years, according to available records dating back to 1989.
Police attribute the drop in crime to proactive policing measures combined with strong public support and a close working relationship with the community. “Middletown has been recognized as being one of the best places to live in America, and our police officers work hard every day to protect the community and keep it safe,” said Middletown Police Chief R. Craig Weber.
“It’s a credit to both the Police Department and our community that Middletown is such a safe place to live and work,” said Mayor Stephanie Murray. “The Township Committee and I are incredibly proud of the outstanding jobs our officers do every day to ensure the community is well-protected.”
The latest New Jersey State Police Uniform Crime Report indicated that Middletown’s overall crime rate decreased by more than 15% in 2014 compared to 2013. The township’s crime rate for 2014 was 8.57 incidents per 1,000 inhabitants compared to a rate of 10.17 incidents in 2013.
The crime rate in 1989 was 16.4 incidents per 1,000 inhabitants. There was a total of 1,140 crimes in 1989 compared to 594 in 2014 which is a 48 % drop in crime.
“Middletown is already well known as one of the safest communities in the nation,” said Mayor Murray. “The fact that we are breaking our own safety records speaks volumes about our Police Department and the community at large.”
Both violent and non-violent crime dropped in 2014. Violent crimes dropped 44.2 percent from 43 incidents in 2013 to 24 incidents last year. Non-violent crimes dropped 13.6 percent from 632 incidents in 2013 to 546 incidents in 2014.
The annual New Jersey State Police Crime Report is based on statistics submitted to the New Jersey Uniform Crime Reporting System by every New Jersey law enforcement agency for the year 2014. Visit www.njsp.org/info/stats.html to view more statistical data.