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MEMORANDUM To: Chief Valentin From: Deputy Chief McGeachy Date: May 3, 2018 Subject: Violent Crime and Shooting Comparison — 2016 to 2017 Background The Santa Ana Police Department has taken a leadership role in reducing violent crime in our City and across the region. The Department's Crimes Against Persons Division, and the Gang Unit specifically, has adopted a multi -faceted approach that includes education, prevention/intervention, and enforcement. Working with internal and external stakeholders, the Department aggressively targets gang crime and street -level violence in a manner that sends a clear message of accountability to the offenders while working in partnership with the community to increase public safety and quality of life through trust and respect. Analysis Efforts to obtain a comprehensive understanding of crime in any community can be challenging due to the multitude of factors that affect criminal activity'. To achieve a baseline understanding of violent crime in the City of Santa Ana, the Federal Bureau of Investigations publishes statistical data annually through the Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which provides a good overview of our City. However, it is also important to acknowledge that the label "violent" is not always an accurate reflection of the actual crime. For instance, aggravated assaults could include an attempted crime (no actual injury) and robberies could be achieved through fear of possible harm without the actual use of force. The table below identifies Part I violent crime reported to the FBI: • Although Part I violent crime rose by 1.7% from 2016 to 2017, the City of Santa Ana saw an 8.7% decrease in homicides and an 11.8% decrease in aggravated assaults during the same period. • UCR data lacks specificity when analyzing street -level violent crime and, in particular, those crimes that are largely associated with criminal street gangs. • While crimes could potentially be gang related, the motive for each crime is not always clear to the Department at the time of the report. • The Santa Ana Police Department conducts a monthly analysis of crimes reported to the Department that are generally associated with criminal street gang activity to gain a better understand of those ' his://ucr.fbi.gov/ucr-statistics-their-orooer-use z Data has yet to be verified and published by the FBI 19F-4 Uniform Crime Repo Violent Crime Data 2016 2017' Change 2016 to 2017 r (1" Quarter)' Homicide 23 21 -8.70% 5 Rae 142 188 32.39% 44 Aggravated Assaults 936 826 -11.75% 184 Robbery 511 605 18.40% 117 Total Part I Violent Crime 1,612 1,640 1.70% 350 • Although Part I violent crime rose by 1.7% from 2016 to 2017, the City of Santa Ana saw an 8.7% decrease in homicides and an 11.8% decrease in aggravated assaults during the same period. • UCR data lacks specificity when analyzing street -level violent crime and, in particular, those crimes that are largely associated with criminal street gangs. • While crimes could potentially be gang related, the motive for each crime is not always clear to the Department at the time of the report. • The Santa Ana Police Department conducts a monthly analysis of crimes reported to the Department that are generally associated with criminal street gang activity to gain a better understand of those ' his://ucr.fbi.gov/ucr-statistics-their-orooer-use z Data has yet to be verified and published by the FBI 19F-4