Sterling Heights is the safest big city in Michigan once again, according to 2017 FBI Crime Statistics.
Sterling Heights ranked the lowest in four out of the eight categories that the FBI tracks for annual crime statistics in cities with over 100,000 in population. Compared to the seven cities in Michigan with a population of over 100,000, Sterling Heights was the lowest in overall Violent Crimes and Property Crimes.
“We are very proud of the hard work of all the police officers in helping keep Sterling Heights the safest big city in Michigan and one of the safest big cities in the United States,” stated Chief Dale Dwojakowski. A report last year by reviews.org ranked Sterling Heights the 6th safest city in the United States.
The police department is only part of the equation, "We know that strong citizen support and community pride is equally as important in combatting crime in Sterling Heights, said Dwojakowski. Existing and recently adopted innovative programs such as Citizens Patrol, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Neighborhood Watch, Citizens Police Academy and Sterling Heights Drug Free Coalition all help keep crime rates low. In addition, the department's recently expanded School Resource Officers program and the Community Out-Reach and Engagement (CORE) program have made a positive impact in the community. This fall we are also pleased to announce a brand new program that will be offered to all 6th grade students in Utica Community Schools and 5th grade students in Warren Consolidated Schools called SMART (Skills Mastery and Resilience Training) Moves. The SMART Moves program, taught by police officers, teaches the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco while also emphasizing smart decision-making strategies. This program will run in 19 elementary schools and impact 1,500 students a year.
Mayor Michael Taylor stated “The City of Sterling Heights takes pride in being a great place to live, work or play. The city’s Visioning Statement guides every decision we make: A vibrant, inclusive community for residents and businesses that is safe, active, progressive and distinctive. Sterling Heights – a bold vision for an exceptional quality of life. I commend the entire Police Department for the great work they do every day.”
Attached is a sheet with locally relevant data compiled for communities over 100,000 using the FBI Crime Statistics Report. For more information about the report or data, contact the city’s Community Relations Department at (586) 446-2470.