Camden Falls (But Not Far) In Annual Crime Report
CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) - There's good news and bad news for Camden in an annual crime study. The good news is that Camden is no longer #1 on the list. The bad news is that it is now #2.
The crime rankings, published annually by CQ Press, are based on last year's statistics as reported to the FBI. The study looks at six categories including murder, rape, and robbery.
Camden mayor Dana Redd released a statement blasting the report, saying it's "flawed" and is only "published for the sake of making a buck."
She says crime in Camden is at a 40-year low.
But Camden County prosecutor's office spokesman Jason Laughlin says that while the study is not perfect, it does give some perspective.
"Whether you're number one, or number two, or number ten, (if you are) anywhere near the top of that list, obviously your city has a crime problem," he said.
And that is a concern, he says, especially as the city mulls police layoffs to close a $28-million budget gap.
"Removing officers from the street, particularly a significant number of officers -- which is what they're talking about -- is not going help the effort to keep crime down in Camden," he said on Monday.
Philadelphia ranked 30th out of the 400 cities. St. Louis is now number one; Detroit is number three; Flint, Michigan is number four; and Oakland, California rounds out the top five.
Reported by Jim Melwert, KYW Newsradio 1060.
