Boston police report drop in crime

Serious crime plunged in Boston during the first six months of the year, according to statistics released yesterday, and community leaders and police officials say the drop appears to show that new police strategies are working.

Shootings were down 31 percent for the January to June period, compared with the same six months in 2006, according to statistics released by the Boston Police Department. Homicides declined 14 percent, and robberies fell 12 percent.

"We're not ready to declare victory, but I've been very happy," said Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis, who has introduced several new crime- fighting programs since assuming control of the department in December. "The great news is there's a downward trend. That's what we work for."

Davis said he believes a computerized crime-tracking and mapping initiative he instituted when he came to office and a renewed emphasis on community policing have had an impact on the decline.

In recent months, Davis initiated a program of walking beats in which officers patrol the city's most violent neighborhoods, a text-messaging crime tip line, and a new police substation in the Fenway area. He has also added several detectives to the homicide unit. The commissioner said he plans to unveil more violence-prevention proposals soon.

In citing police successes, Davis pointed to an 11 percent reduction in serious crimes in Roxbury and a dramatic dropoff in shootings at the beginning of the summer crime season. Nonfatal shootings in June fell about 40 percent, dropping from 46 in June 2006 to 28 in June this year.

The commissioner said there have been small flare-ups in violence recently because of renewed gang tensions and hotter weather.

Still, he praised officers for working hard to keep crime down. Every major crime category declined except larcenies, which were up by less than 1 percent in the first six months of 2007.

Davis said the uptick in larcenies was fueled by a sharp increase in motor vehicle break-ins. He said the department plans to take on that crime trend in the coming weeks by raising public awareness about leaving valuables in view inside vehicles.

Emmett Folgert, executive director of the Dorchester Youth Collaborative, said he is thrilled about the reductions. But he added that to make enduring reductions in violence will require intensive effort to stop new gangs before they develop.

"We all know that when people are shot there will be retaliation," Folgert said of gangs. "We're still seeing gang formation, very serious gang formation in several of the hot-spot areas, gangs that were local that are now claiming Crips and Bloods [national gang affiliations] that they didn't do before."

Folgert said more money needs to be spent on violence prevention and programs that help young people find constructive loyalties in mainstream society instead of in gangs. He said police officials and community leaders should begin identifying neighborhoods at risk for new gangs and attempt to block the groups from taking hold.

"If gangs form, guns will always follow," Folgert said. "And when the gangs have guns, they will be used."

The Rev. Jeffrey Brown, executive director of the Ten Point Coalition and the architect of a widely acclaimed gang truce, said gang members deserve credit for laying down their weapons.

He also said Davis has listened to the community's needs and reacted.

"One of the major cries from the community was for walking beat officers, and he stepped up to the plate in response," Brown said. "You have police officers who are getting to know residents, who are getting to know the streets they are around, and who are building relationships, which is a key component to reducing violence."

Suzanne Smalley can be reached at ssmalley@globe.com.