Is Detroit the Most Dangerous City in America?
Detroit Officials dispute the claim that City of Detroit is the most dangerous city in America. City officials cite positive gain in regards to the Northern Urban City.
A recent report identifying the city of Detroit as the most dangerous city in America drew the ire of politicians and many challenges from law enforcement officials and national criminologists who disputed the data-gathering methods and analysis of crime statistics leading to the report’s conclusions.
“These rankings represent an irresponsible misuse of the data and do groundless harm to the communities,” said American Society of Criminology President Michael Tonry, professor of law and public policy as the University of Minnesota. “They also work against a key goal of our society, which is a better understanding of crime-related issues by both scientists and the public.
The 14 annual “City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America” report was released on Inc. Nov. 19 by CQ Press, a division of the Congressional Quarterly. The report used crime statistics from 378 cities with populations of at least 75,000 based on per-capita rates of rape, homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and auto theft.
Last year’s most dangerous city, St. Louis, dropped to second. Mission Viejo, Calif. Was ranked data. For example, Detroit has a population of 919,000 while Mission Viejo has a population of 93,100.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, now in his second term, released a statement critical of the report on Nov. 21 saying, “We have battled negative perceptions for more than 40 years and the spirit of Detroiters will not be broken by a designation from a group that misused statistics to draw unfounded conclusions about the safety of our city for the purpose of profit.”
Detroit Police Chief Ella M. Bully-Cummings also questioned whether the CQ Press is the truly interested in providing data or trying to create a stir in order to generate controversy, therefore increasing profits.
Detroit like many large urban areas has suffered through economic downturns, joblessness, high crime and struggling schools. However, there are many who believe Detroit is in the midst of a revolutionary transformation and enough credit is being given to Mayor Kilpatrick and the member of his administration who have strive to improve the city.
Detroit has hosted several major national sporting events, Major League Baseball’s All Star Game in 2005, Super Bowl XL in 2006 and the city is scheduled to host the financially lucrative NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2009.
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nichole
On March 5, 2008 at 9:24 am
I live in lower Warren (one block north of the infamous 8 mile). Even on the north side of 8 mile, the crime is outrageous. A personal anecdote; my cousin and I jumped the wall in the alley behind our house to go to the store and came across a prostitute and a man in a car, he pulled a gun, we ran! This was just on the other side of our swingset. the only thing seperating him and us was a 6 inch thick wall. As for Kwame, that guys nothing but a walking boner! Shame on the people of Detroit for re electing that jerk. Let it be said I do belive in the Manogian mansion party and that he did have assosiation with Strawberry’s death!
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