News Flash

Data has been released from the Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation – National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) 2023 Crime Data Explorer, and the city of Sterling Heights is once again noted as the safest big city (over 100,000 population) in Michigan. Sterling Heights was ranked safest among these communities in both total property crimes and violent crimes, as well as safest overall.

From 2022 to 2023, violent crime in Sterling Heights decreased 19% and property crime decreased 4%. In addition, Sterling Heights recorded the lowest violent crime rate among all Michigan communities over 100,000 population at 210 total violent crimes for the year, which is 51% lower than Dearborn, 69% lower than Ann Arbor and 255% lower than Warren. Sterling Heights also recorded the lowest property crime rate among all Michigan communities over 100,000 population at 2,522 for the year, which is 28% lower than Ann Arbor, 35% lower than Dearborn and 67% lower than Warren.

Sterling Heights is already one of the safest cities in the nation among cities with populations over 100,000. These most recent FBI crime statistics show a continued trend of safety in Sterling Heights.

“Sterling Heights isn’t just a city on a map; we set the standard,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael C. Taylor. “And being named Michigan’s safest big city year after year isn’t just a badge of honor or an achievement that’s only about the numbers. It’s a testament to our dedicated community and police department that work together to cultivate the strong sense of safety and wellbeing we enjoy.”

The City’s most recent resident survey from 2021 revealed 97% of respondents said they feel safe in their neighborhood during the day and 86% are satisfied with the overall quality of police protection in Sterling Heights, which is 16% above the regional average and 23% higher than the national average. In addition, 75% are satisfied with the City’s efforts to prevent crime, and 74% are satisfied with the quality of their interaction with the Sterling Heights Police Department.

“I couldn’t be any prouder of the men and women of this department that work 24/7 to protect all our residents, business owners and visitors,” said Sterling Heights Police Chief Dale Dwojakowski. “The partnership with our residents is second to none and has helped drive down crime year after year. None of this would be possible without the unwavering support from our elected officials and city administration.”

Over the past few years, several factors have helped control crime in Sterling Heights:

• Funding was approved by City Council in 2021 that allowed for the addition of seven new officers who are dedicated to proactively targeting crime through the City and are engaged in additional community policing efforts through a community services bureau and directed neighborhood patrols who partner with bordering communities to support our department’s efforts and reinforce the message that we don’t tolerate crime in our community. New community service bureau projects including a video web series, a podcast and a bridge-building program for foster children has expanded the way residents and businesses are engaging with the department.
• Sterling Heights Police Department has led the way as a pioneer in innovative substance abuse programs like the Comeback Quick Response Team and the new Re-Direct drug diversion programs. Coupled with the new Sobriety Court led by 41-A District Court Judge Annemarie Lepore, these model programs have been immensely successful in targeting the root cause of most crime – substance abuse – and getting addicts into treatment rather than repeating the cycle of incarceration, relapse and additional crime. Many other departments across the state have sought the leadership of SHPD in implementing the same programs in their own organizations.
• Sterling Heights Police Department became a fully accredited police agency from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MLEAC). The MLEAC accreditation is a voluntary statewide law enforcement accreditation program formed through a partnership between The Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police and the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association. The accreditation is a significant professional achievement acknowledging the agency has met 108 different national standards for operational effectiveness.
• Sterling Heights Police Department was the first department in Macomb County, Mich. to launch a “transparency dashboard” accessible under the police department section of the City’s website. The dashboard allows the public to quickly and conveniently view up-to-date information regarding the department’s interaction with the community on items like calls for service, citations issued, arrests made, use of force or complaints. In addition, a digital crime map offers the public information about police activity in the city in the past 72 hours.
• Sterling Heights Police Department was one of the first departments in the area to engage with social workers who have been instrumental in connecting residents in need to a variety of resources that can reduce the stress placed upon them.
• Sterling Heights Police Department is also actively engaged in researching and deploying other advanced technology to continue keeping Sterling Heights one of the safest big cities in American including the Flock camera system, the HAAS emergency vehicle alert system that notifies drivers on the road that an emergency vehicle is approaching and even AI equipped cameras that can help find lost children or locate suspects in crowded events like Sterlingfest. The department will continue to  research the utilization of cutting-edge technology that allows our officers to operate efficiently and keep our community safe.

NIBRS 2023 Crime Data Explorer is a statistical compilation of offense, arrest, and police employee data reported by law enforcement agencies voluntarily participating in the FBI’s crime reporting program. The FBI collects information on crimes reported by law enforcement agencies regarding violent crimes and property crimes. Data and Sterling Heights’ ranking compared to similar sized cities in Michigan come from the Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer NIBRS 2023 Crime Table and appear below.

2023 VIOLENT CRIMES

2023 PROPERTY CRIMES