The overall crime rate in the tri-county area showed a significant decrease last year, mirroring that trend across the Sunshine State.
The 2018 Annual Uniform Crime Report shows a 9 percent drop across Florida in total crimes, which include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. The decrease marks the 48th consecutive year Florida has seen the crime rate fall.
Locally, the populations of Sumter, Lake and Marion counties all increased, but the overall crime rate decreased. In Sumter County, it dropped the most – 9 percent – followed by Lake County with a 7.2 percent decrease and Marion County with a 7.1 percent drop.
Sumter County had eight murders as compared to six in 2017, but every other crime category decreased. Lake County showed decreases in all categories. And Marion showed decreases in every category except murder (17 to 29), rape (143 to 244) and aggravated assault (975 to 1,003).
The violent crime (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) rate dropped 28.1 percent in Sumter County and 12.3 percent in Lake County. But it increased by 4.9 percent in Marion County.
The property crime (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) rate fell 4 percent in Sumter County, 6.4 percent in Lake County and 9.2 percent in Marion County, the annual crime report shows.
Statewide, there was a 7.4 percent decrease of total crime indexes, with 45,154 fewer crimes committed than in 2017. Violent crimes dropped 4.2 percent and property crimes fell 7.9 percent. The crimes of robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft were down, while murder and rape saw increases.
Murder offenses jumped by 50 total homicides, a 4.7 percent increase. That includes the 17 victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting incident.
“The fall of overall crime rates in 2018 is great news for all Floridians, but there’s still more work to be done,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The governor said he recently met with Florida’s leading law enforcement officials to provide an update on the progress of the state’s threat assessment strategy, which he initiated in February in a request to FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen.
“We must do everything we can to protect our citizens and visitors from senseless acts of targeted violence,” he said. “My administration will continue to stand with our law enforcement personnel and move forward on key policies to protect our residents and keep our communities safe.”
Attorney General Ashley Moody said Florida is a stronger, safer state because of the men and women of law enforcement who face danger every day to protect their communities.
“I am deeply grateful for all they do to keep the state’s crime rate trending downward,” she said.
But Moody cautioned that the 48-year drop in crime comes at a tremendous cost.
“Last year, Florida lost 11 law enforcement officers in the line of duty,” she said. “We will never forget their sacrifices, nor the security we feel as a result of their courageous service. God bless the men and women who value our safety above their own.”
Swearingen said the overall crime rate reflects the outstanding work done by Florida’s law enforcement officers in protecting the state’s citizens and visitors.
“I appreciate the sacrifices they make and the risks they take every day to protect us,” he said. “Embracing new strategies like behavioral threat assessment will enhance our crime prevention efforts. In addition, we must leverage progressive techniques for solving crimes, like genetic genealogy.”
Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter, president of the Florida Sheriffs Association, said the state’s low crime rate is no accident.
“A major reason we enjoy a 48-year low in the crime rate today is because criminals are serving the time they deserve and not creating more crime victims by receiving a ‘get out of jail free’ card,” he said. “Florida’s ‘Truth in Sentencing’ laws have once again contributed to keeping our residents and visitors of the Sunshine State safe.”
The annual crime report calculates both crime volume and crime rate throughout Florida. The report, including county-by-county breakdowns, can be found on FDLE’s website by clicking HERE. FDLE began tracking crime statistics in 1971.
