Troy Named Safest City in Michigan, 19th Safest in Country

Troy is again ranked Michigan's safest city with a population of at least 75,000, according to a recent report from CQ Press. It is the 10th time in the past 14 years Troy has been named the safest city in the state.

"It is a privilege and an honor to be the mayor of the safest city in Michigan with a population of 75,000 or more," Troy Mayor Janice Daniels said Thursday. "Our dedication to fiscal responsibility and a citizen-centric government model will support this great community. We should all be very proud to live, work and play in Troy, Michigan."

The report uses crime statistics reported to the FBI in 2010, which are then organized into six crime categories – murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft – to establish the safest city rankings.

According to the report, Troy has the lowest crime ranking in the state again this year; the city also ranked 19th safest nationwide for cities with a population of more than 75,000. The highest national ranking the city received was in 2006, when Troy was named the fifth safest city in the country.

Residents, businesses support public safety

Many credit the – which almost – with helping earn Troy its "safest city" designation. The department currently employs 97 sworn officers compared to 137 officers in 2006.

"The community has consistently identified public safety as a priority," Troy City Manager John Szerlag said. "The ongoing economic challenges required significant cost-cutting efforts in every area of service delivery, including public safety. Nonetheless, we have worked hard to keep Troy safe. This latest ranking reinforces those efforts."

David Reese, associate broker for in Troy, said Troy's status as the safest city in the state has played a positive role in home sales in the past.

"What we really see is that due to the strength of our community services, Troy schools and public safety, we have no problem selling Troy," Reese said. "It's a troubled world out there, and to know that you live in a city that has very little crime, it's a huge plus."

"I think our police are fabulous, especially considering we have two malls in the city," said Beverly Peck, account clerk at the . "That's saying something."

"I've never had a problem here in Troy," said James Haggarty, a Troy resident and events coordinator for the community center. "When you call the police here, they show up. They're here right away."

Community partnerships mean success, safety

Troy Police, however, attribute the city's safety to community partnerships and prevention programs – including the , and – as well as an excellent school system, effective District Court and an active business community.

"It's a combination of the hard work of the police department and the community, the city management, City Council, the funding we get – all those things play into it," Troy Police Chief Gary Mayer said. "The community places a high value on public safety."

Mayer said the department has made changes over the year to cope with cutbacks, including using technology more, partnering with media and schools and using to help patrol the city.

"It's partnership," Mayer said. "We're very happy that we're recognized."

By the numbers

Here's a look at the Troy Police Department's workload. In 2010, there were:

• 35,018 incidents of all types
• 173,000 total phone calls to Troy Dispatch
• 40,335 911 calls to Troy Dispatch
• 246 crime prevention and other safety programs 
• 14,632 crime prevention/safety program attendees
• 2,520 total arrests
• 393 drunken driving arrests
• 3,367 traffic crashes
• 12,164 total traffic citations
• 8,723 traffic citations for crash-causing hazardous violations
• 10 rapes
•  9 robberies
• 33 instances of aggravated assault
• 1 murder

For more information about the Troy Police Department, visit the department's website.