12/29/09 – Mayor Gavin Newsom and Police Chief George Gascón today announced that, with 3 days remaining in the year, homicides in San Francisco were down 54% from 2008, the lowest rate the City’s seen since 1961. Newsom and Gascón also announced that violent crime in San Francisco was down 10% overall compared to 2008.

“In spite of the current economic conditions when one would expect crime to spike, San Francisco has reduced homicides to historic lows,” said Mayor Newsom. “In addition, violent crime across the city is down, and in the places that have proved to be the most challenging – the Bayview and the Mission – we’re also seeing declines in violent crime. I commend Chief Fong and Chief Gascón for their efforts to make San Francisco a safer and secure city.”

Key pieces of crime data from 2009 include:

· In 2009, violent crime in San Francisco was down 10% overall compared to 2008.
· Through Dec 28, there were 45 homicides in San Francisco, down 54% from last year and the lowest rate seen since 1961.
· Rapes are down 8%, robberies down 14%, and aggravated assault down 4%.
· Specifically in the Bayview, violent crime is down 17% over last year. And in the Mission, it’s down 13%.
· The Tenderloin has also experienced drops in crime – 3% less violent crime and 8% less property crime.
· Auto thefts were down 18% citywide since 2008.

Chief Gascón credited the Police Department’s stepped up saturation of crime hot-spots and more focused patrolling as the main reasons behind the drop in homicides and crime.

“I attribute these reductions to the hard work of the men and women of the San Francisco Police Department, our community partnerships, and smart, focused policing,” said Police Chief Gascón.