Violent Crime Up in Milwaukee for 2006

Tell me something I don't know.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Despite fewer reports of homicides and rapes, Milwaukee saw a surge in violent crime in 2006 that reflected a national trend, according to annual FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report for 2006.

Violent crime rose nationally by 1.9% and property crime dropped at the same rate from 2005 to 2006, the report says.

In Milwaukee, violent crime shot up by 28%, though homicides and rapes were down 15% and 29% respectively. Robbery (23%) and aggravated assaults (34%) were up.

Property crime increased by 17% overall, with increases in burglary (24%), theft (13%), auto theft (24%) and arson (26%).

How do Milwaukee's crime statistics reflect the national trend?

Nationally, violent crime rose by 1.9%.

In Milwaukee, it skyrocketed by 28%.

That's an enormous difference. Milwaukee smashes the national trend, not reflects it.

While police and public officials said the report mostly confirms what they already knew, they said early indications are 2007's crime numbers will be lower.

Raw numbers recorded since the Labor Day launch of the Milwaukee Police Department's Neighborhood Safety Initiative show nonfatal shootings down 22%, homicides down 9.4% and armed robberies down 3% compared with the same period last year, said Phillip Walzak, spokesman for Mayor Tom Barrett.

That's good.

However, to reflect that national trend, 2007's numbers have to plummet.

The JS article concludes with this:

This year's FBI crime report featured a more prominent message cautioning against using the data to rank or compare cities or counties. The FBI's Web site said rankings can lead to simplistic or incomplete analyses, and overlook variables that affect crime and its reporting.

Right.

We don't want some simpleton looking at the figures and getting the wrong idea about violent crime in Milwaukee.

1.9% increase nationally.

28% increase in Milwaukee.

Don't jump to conclusions due to an incomplete analysis.

Good grief.