Pasadena Leads Decline in Reported Crime

L.A. Times Archives

Sept. 9, 1998 12 AM PT

Reported crime in Los Angeles and across the county continued to fall during the first half of 1998, with Pasadena enjoying the most dramatic improvement, according to state figures released Monday.

Crime in the city of Los Angeles during the first six months of 1998 fell 14.6%, compared to the same period last year. Homicides for the period fell 29.3%, according to a state tally of homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and car theft.

Neighborhoods patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported a 13.9% drop. The only significant crime increases were reported in Pomona and El Monte, which had increases of 17.5% and 22.4%, respectively.

Among 76 California cities and counties with populations greater than 100,000, Pasadena had the biggest drop in crime so far this year, falling by a third.

“We have focused on gang violence and particular youth violence,” said Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melekian. “We have moved away from the broad-based approach . . . and focused on specific individuals who we believe are responsible for the vast majority of violent offenses.”

In two years, he said, youth-related homicides in the city of 140,000 have dropped by more than half. “The bottom line is fewer parents are going to funerals for their kids,” Melekian said.

Statewide, the number of homicides fell 22.2% during the first half of the year. Overall, crime statewide dropped about 9% during the same period--to levels not seen since 1966, when Roger Maris played his last game for the New York Yankees, state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren said.

“While most of the nation is once again talking about Roger Maris’ home run record . . . there are no records more important to Californians than this drop in crime, Lungren told a news conference at the Rose Bowl.

The most recent statistics reflect a statewide trend: reported crimes have fallen 35% over the last five years.

Lungren, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, said the decrease is largely because of tough new sentencing requirements, such as the state’s three-strikes law. Criminals must now serve 25 years to life in prison for conviction on a third felony.

“There is a reason crime is going down,” Lungren said. “That is because of the prison population is going up, folks.”

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Crime in County Drops

Crime fell in Los Angeles County during the first six months of the year, reflecting a downward trend statewide. The state attorney general’s office released statistics Tuesday for cities with populations greater than 10,000.

City: Burbank

Crimes in 1997: 856

Crimes in 1998: 709

Percent change: -17.2

City: El Monte

Crimes in 1997: 1,342

Crimes in 1998: 1,253

Percent change: -6.6

City: Inglewood

Crimes in 1997: 2,082

Crimes in 1998: 1,740

Percent change: -16.4