FBI statistics:
County crime down in 2003
By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
November 4, 2004
For the third consecutive year, national statistics show Lauderdale County's total crime index has declined.
Despite that, Sheriff Billy Sollie said the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports have flaws one being that when multiple crimes happen to the same person at the same time, only the most serious is reported.
The latest FBI figures for calendar year 2003 lists 533 incidents in the county of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.
The FBI released its annual crime statistics last week, including data covering cities and counties nationwide.
In Meridian, the statistics showed that crime was up slightly last year. Meridian police said the biggest reason for the increase was a rise in identity thefts, embezzlements and cyber thefts.
In Lauderdale County, the FBI statistics were the lowest for the Sheriff's Department since it began reporting crime to the FBI in 1996. The data covers unincorporated areas of the county.
The highest number of reported crimes was in 2000, when 631 incidents were reported. That number dropped to 601 in 2001; it fell again to 586 in 2002.
Sollie said municipalities usually experience higher crime rates than rural areas.
He also said more violent crimes are typically committed in municipalities where people are living in more compact spaces.
Meridian reported eight murders in 2003, compared to six in the county. All of the county murders were the result of a shooting spree at the Lockheed Martin plant in July of that year. The shooter, Lockheed employee Doug Williams, then killed himself.
Meridian police reported 1,823 property crimes in 2003 compared to 493 in the county, and 195 violent crimes compared to 39 in the county.
Here is a look at FBI crime statistics for calendar year 2003. Statistics are for Lauderdale, Lowndes and Madison counties. Lowndes County, with 60,658 residents, and Madison County, with 79,758, are similar in population to Lauderdale County, which has 77,706 people based on the latest U.S. Census figures. The statistics cover unincorporated areas of each county.
Lauderdale County: 6
Lowndes County: 0
Madison County: 4
Lauderdale County: 6
Lowndes County: 21
Madison County: 8
Lauderdale County: 9
Lowndes County: 7
Madison County: 9
Lauderdale County: 18
Lowndes County: 51
Madison County: 72
Lauderdale County: 256
Lowndes County: 180
Madison County: 152
Lauderdale County: 208
Lowndes County: 371
Madison County: 247
Lauderdale County: 29
Lowndes County: 31
Madison County: 78
Lauderdale County: 1
Lowndes County: 5
Madison County: 4
