Great timing on denying our police force a decent raise. We are simply not going to get a handle on this by not maintaining and retaining a decent crime fighting force. This information should not be surprising. In the last mayoral election, candidate Jamison warned us we needed to get a handle on the matter;
3. Sioux Falls, SD
> 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +69.1%
> 2011 violent crime rate: 215.1 per 100,000
> 2015 violent crime rate: 363.7 per 100,000
> Murders in 2015: 3
Between 2011 and 2015, the violent crime rate in Sioux Falls rose from 215 incidents per 100,000 residents to 364 per 100,000. The number of aggravated assaults in the metro area more than doubled from 288 to 679 incidents. While violent crime levels are often greater in areas with high unemployment and poverty, the typical Sioux Falls household earns roughly $4,000 more than the typical American household, and the metro area’s unemployment rate has fallen over the last five years to 3.3% — far less than the national figure of 4.7%.
According to the Sioux Falls Police Department, the rise in crime is largely due to the city’s growing drug problem. The number of total police calls and drug seizures by Sioux Falls police has increased rapidly in recent years, with the amount of seized meth quadrupling from 9.8 pounds to 38.0 pounds from 2015 to 2016.
Looks like the attorney has let out a release on their behalf. Does not look like things going forward are going to be good for the citizens. The mayor failed these police officers.
http://www.keloland.com/news/article/news/fop-disappointed-in-failed-negotiations-with-city
With the growing drug problem being the root of all the crime according to the mayor and the police, why have they only added one new drug detective in the last 15 years as stated in earlier articles from the city. Seems like they should be adding a lot more going forward.
Ok, how will the mayor twist the truth? Uh, Sioux Falls has jobs. Especially for drug dealers and murderers. He’ll never admit there’s a problem. Just another veto?
With SF population at 175,000+, only 3 homicides seems low to me. What is high here is the sensationalism.
I agree with all of your stats but just want to point out that the jump in aggravated assaults was in part due to a change in state law that year that made strangulation an aggravated assault versus a misdemeanor as it was classified prior to 2011. This was due to domestic violence legislation that was voted on in 2011 by the SD Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. Everything else is spot on though.
My Bad Larry. The Wall Street Journal is no better at fake news then the National Enquirer. Next the mayor will be blaming the aliens.
Sorry Larry, it wasn’t the aliens it was the chokers.
Larry, The homicide rate in Sioux Falls has always been pretty steady for the last 15 years. You have to understand that modern medical science has caused homicide rates across the country to decrease. We are not less violent. Fewer people are dying at the hands of another because trauma centers such as Avera and Sanford are able to patch them up better. The real indicator that there is a problem is the rise in assaults, robbery, narcotic arrests, and property crimes such as burglary and theft. These types of crimes are all tied to the drug trade. People rob and steal to buy drugs. People rob and assault others over drug debt or ripping off dealers for their dope and cash.
I3wis, You choke on food. You are strangled when someone tries to end your life by putting there hands around your throat causing your breath or blood flow to your brain to be cut off.
Southdadumbass,
The chief of the police is already on record in an argus article stating that the law change was only responsible for the first year’s growth in that stat and that it is still rising going forward, but good try!
Who is the dumbass? You are arguing the case as if I wrote this post. I linked a story by a very reputable newspaper, the Wall Street Journal. If you have a bone to pick, I suggest you take it up with their publisher.
Secondly, as I have stated in the past, when I moved here in 1991, meth was an issue then also, it’s not something new that crept up on the city overnight. This comes down to LEADERSHIP, and how real leaders deal with real problems. It is obvious the current mayor and past chief of police blew it off, they had play things to build, who needs to be bothered with crime.
The irony of the whole thing is that this time the mayor can’t use the council as his scapegoat, this is all on him. He is the city manager in charge of all city employees, by charter, that is his main duty.
Now go back to make excuses, they have been humorous so far.
First of all I said I agreed with your…..errr someone else’s hard work……..second I said the change in the law accounted for PART of the elevated numbers in agg assault. Third…..dude’s still strangle their wives on a regular basis thus keeping that number high. MMM, not saying all the agg assaults but it does account for a higher agg assault number…….I don’t know how I am making excuses when I am agreeing with your post…………….or at least someone else’s research and hard work…….? maybe cite your sources next time.
I stand corrected by another reader, 24/7 Wall St. has nothing to do with the WSJ.
Creating a link is citing my sources, hyperlinks have been around since the internet was invented, not sure why people still don’t understand how they work.
Crime is no up but piling that on a mayor or council is foolish. There too many oppurtutirs to do nothing for room and board from the government but then can’t afford the entertainment. Jobless drug addict welfare dependency is to blame
Do you feel safer than before Huether was elected? Have you witnessed petty theft or a pick pocket? Are casino robberies frequent? Is the mayors office open door like it was for Munson? Given such a vibrant economy, why so many homeless? Is there any day when there has not been a drug arrest?
Take your own poll. Veto that.
Does anyone have conviction about what they post? With fake names, nothing you say carries weight, like anonymous sourcing. How can anyone with intelligence think drug prohibition is the answer to the drug problem. How did alcohol prohibition work out? The Drug War is the cause, not the solution, to so many problems. Name one positive thing this 50+ year war on American citizens has accomplished. Who do you want to profit from the sale of drugs, cartels or legit business? I think the 50+ year war has firmly established that drugs will exist no matter how many people we imprison and no matter how much money we waste.