Wilmington police posting crime statistics online

Wilmington Compstat crime reports are now available online. Compstat, which stands for comparison statistics, allows police to track crime data almost in real time.

Wilmington Police Department's public reports include up-to-date crime-related statistics in seven major categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglar, theft and auto theft. (WHYY file photo)

Wilmington Police Department's public reports include up-to-date crime-related statistics in seven major categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglar, theft and auto theft. (WHYY file photo)

The Wilmington Police Department has started posting weekly crime statistics, which include weekly and monthly numbers, as well as year-to-date comparisons for murder, theft, assault, and other offenses

Police Chief Robert Tracy said crime reporting, statistical analysis, and information sharing are key components of modern-day policing.

Tracy launched Compstat — short for comparison statistics — when he took over the department in April. Data-driven measurements were a big part of Tracy’s work to reduce crime while working in New York City and Chicago.

“This methodology, which has been used by the New York Police Department since 1994, allows the police department to track data in near real time, providing the department greater levels of accountability, focus and follow-up,” Tracy said. “Most importantly, the data will support efficient, targeted policing across the city for all residents and visitors.”

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Tracy has Mayor Mike Purzycki’s full support. Since Tracy’s arrival last year, Purzycki said, they’ve talked about ways to increase transparency and awareness of what the department is doing to reduce crime.

“Whatever we achieve as a city to improve public safety has to be done through the efforts of the community, which is why everyone should know from a statistical standpoint where we stand and what we need to do to improve,” Purzycki said.

The new public reports include up-to-date crime-related statistics in seven major categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, and auto theft.

The reports can be found on the city’s website, WilmingtonDE.gov.

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