Office of Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland
Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
contact: Aigner Cleveland
Press Secretary
Chester Police Department Releases Half-Year Crime Stats, Homicides Down 58 Percent
Crime from January through June of 2021 has decreased 21% when compared to the same timeframe last year.
(CHESTER, PA) – Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland and the Chester Police Department command staff today announced that homicides in the City were down 58% from January through June of this year when compared to the same timeframe in 2020.
The Chester Police Department released the mid-year 2021 crime statistics, highlighting drops in seven of the eight categories outlined in part one crimes– with five areas showing double-digit decreases.
Part one crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, vehicular theft, and arson. All crimes except for rapes were trending down.
Arson incidents registered the highest decline, with a 65% drop from January through June when compared to the same timeframe in 2020. Homicides saw the second-highest drop, with 11 fewer murders in the City this year. Robberies showed a 51% decrease, followed by thefts with a 23% downward trend, burglaries saw a 19% decrease, vehicle thefts were down 9%, and robberies dropped by 5%.
“Our officers should be commended for all of their hard work,” said Mayor Kirkland. “I am beyond proud of Commissioner Gretsky, his leadership, the entire police department, and this community. The numbers show that progress is being made in Chester on this front. There’s always room for improvement but I am encouraged by these numbers and the future of our city.”
In total, 157 fewer part one crimes have occurred this year when compared to the same timeframe last year. This accounts for a 21% decline in crime for Chester.
“There isn’t one particular reason why the numbers are down,” stated Police Commissioner Gretsky. “The progress here is a combination of partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, like the DA’s office, and state police. It is also a testament to the resiliency of this department being able to make progress despite being under-resourced. I am encouraged and looking forward to finishing out the rest of 2021 strong.”
Residents are reminded to download the Chester Police Department’s free mobile app.
The app has many helpful tools, resources, and features, including the Submit a Tip, a form that enables you to submit a crime tip, anonymously or with your contact information, along with photos; your tip submission is confidential.
Download the Chester Police Department mobile app onto your smartphone or tablet. It is available free of charge from the Apple and Google Play (Android) app stores.
Search: Chester Police Department, or click:
Shared link (links to both Android and Apple): https://apps.myocv.com/share/a30419013
Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ocv.chesterpapolicedepartment
Apple:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chester-police-department/id1449894298?mt=8