Contact: Sunny Mindel (212) 788-2958
Edward Skyler (212) 788-2969
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and First Deputy Police Commissioner Patrick Kelleher tonight kicked off the annual National Night Out Against Crime events across New York City. Sponsored by the New York City Police Department and the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), the goal of National Night Out Against Crime is to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for local anti-crime programs, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and relations between the police and the communities they serve.
"The Capital of the World has become the safest large city in the United States," Mayor Giuliani said. "Events like National Night Out Against Crime show that criminals do not dominate our neighborhoods any more. Instead, people across the five boroughs of New York City can safely come together and show their dedication to building and maintaining safe neighborhoods for their children."
"This night also calls attention to the successful partnership between the Police Department and the citizens of New York City," the Mayor continued. "Without the hard work and sacrifice of Police Officers in every community and the relationships forged with the citizens they are trying to protect, we would have much less to celebrate tonight."
In New York City, residents, law enforcement agencies, community groups, businesses and local officials will participate in various anti-crime programs and activities at seventy-five different sites. Lecture and exhibit topics include: domestic violence awareness, drug prevention, and town watches. Last year, 31 million people participated in almost 10,000 celebrations across North America.
Mayor Giuliani and Deputy Commissioner Kelleher visited two neighborhoods that have benefited from the remarkable drop in crime over the last six years. In Astoria's 114th Precinct, overall crime has dropped 51% since 1993 and homicides have also been cut in half. In the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, overall crime in the 79th Precinct has been reduced by 55% and murders by 54% over the same period.
Each of the City's five boroughs continues to experience declines in crime. Preliminary statistics for the first half of 1999 show significant decreases since the same period in 1993:
| Felonies | 1993 v. 1999 | Patrol Bureau | 1993 v. 1999 -63% |
| Homicide | -65% | Bronx | -54% |
| Rape | -34% | Brooklyn South | -52% |
| Robbery | -59% | Brooklyn North | -54% |
| Assault | -35% | Manhattan South | -50% |
| Burglary | -58% | Manhattan North | -59% |
| Grand Larceny | -41% | Queens North | -57% |
| Auto Theft | -65% | Queens South | -56% |
| Citywide | -54% | North Staten Island | -63% |