For Immediate Release
October 5, 2020
MIDDLETOWN, NJ – Middletown, NJ has once again achieved the lowest crime rate in New Jersey for communities with a population over 50,000, according to statistics from the 2019 FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) released last week.
The UCR calculates the crime rate based upon the number of incidents of Part I crimes reported per 1,000 residents. Part I crimes include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson. While Middletown ranked first, townships such as Parsippany-Troy Hills, Jackson, Howell and Old Bridge were in the top five.
Index crimes are down 7.5 percent over the last year and 55 percent since 2009, according to Chief of Police R. Craig Weber.
“These statistics showcase the professionalism of the men and women of our world-class Police Department,” said Mayor Tony Perry. “Middletown is continually recognized as one of the safest places to live because of their dedication and community-oriented approach to policing.”
“This is the lowest crime rate in Middletown since the inception of the UCR,” said Police Chief Craig Weber. “Our agency’s proactive approach in targeting crime, along with the community’s support, has proven to be an effective strategy in safeguarding our town.”
The Middletown Township Police Department offers a number of community programs, including child safety seat installations, Police Youth Week camps, Project P.L.U.S, Rude Awakening and the Law Enforcement Against Drugs program which utilizes The Too Good for Drugs curriculum in the Township’s elementary schools.
The Department has also been recognized by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for being one of only 10 law enforcement agencies in New Jersey, and one of 313 nationwide, to complete the Missing Kids Readiness Project. In addition, the Department focuses resources on preventing and solving crimes, including a designated anti-crime unit to address and respond more quickly to illegal activity.
This summer, Middletown once again made the top 100 safest cities list in the United States, according to a report by home security review site SafeWise. Last August, Middletown was lauded the #1 safest small city in New Jersey and 7th in the nation by Frontpoint Security. Middletown has also been voted one of the “Best Places to Live” by MONEY Magazine four times and ranked one of the safest towns nationwide to retire in by badcredit.org, a financial awareness website.
###