Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves is pleased to announce that major crime has dropped 9.5% between 2013 and 2014 in Nassau County. This decrease in major crime occurred across all precincts, and continues a downward trend that began 5 years ago. Additionally, since 2009, crime has plummeted by 25% in Nassau County, including a 66% reduction in murder rates, a 27% decrease in robberies, and a 26% reduction in burglaries.
“Thanks to the brave men and women of the Nassau County Police Department, we are now reporting the lowest crime rate in its history since 1966, the year that crime statistics were first recorded,” said Presiding Officer Gonsalves. “I am very hopeful that this trend can continue.”
In 2014, statistics indicate a 53% decrease in murders, a 36% reduction in robbery crimes, and a 32% reduction in burglary crimes. Successfully reducing crime is directly attributable to a dedicated and well-trained police force, intelligence-led policing models and strategic communication. Advancements in technology have also made it possible for police officers to receive and input valuable intelligence through the computers within their patrol vehicles, effectively turning these patrol vehicles into mobile police precincts. The NCPD’s use of innovative technologies such as license plate readers and the ShotSpotter system to detect and pinpoint locations of gunfire has also contributed to the decrease in crime. Additionally, the County’s Gun Buyback program has taken nearly 3,500 guns off the streets.