Another year of record crime lows in Los Angeles

This morning I joined Mayor Villaraigosa, LAPD Chief Beck, Councilmember Zine, and Police Commission President John Mack to announce that crime in Los Angeles was down again in 2009.

Violent and property crimes went down by 8.6 percent in 2009 compared with 2008. Gang-related crimes are down by more than 11 percent this year compared with last year.

What we've accomplished is truly historic, and I want to thank the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department and the many community members with whom they have partnered to make Los Angeles the much safer city that it has become.

Even though we are facing tough budget times, I'm committed to protecting public safety because safe neighborhoods are important to our economy and our quality of life.