The crime rate continues to drop in Birmingham, and with it, the city’s spot on the CQ Press’ annual city crime rankings released today. It fell three spots from No. 7 in 2009 to No. 10 this year.

The city has bounced around in the rankings in recent years: No. 8 in 2008 and No. 6 in 2007 and 2006.

Violent crimes have continued to fall in Birmingham and across the nation. Birmingham police chief A.C. Roper has been credited with much of the success in his 3-year tenure.

To date, Birmingham has had 51 homicides in 2010, putting it on pace for 57 by year’s end, compared to 72 homicides in 2009.

For comparison: In the FBI Uniform Crime Report for 2009, Birmingham ranked No. 4 among cities with populations of 100,000 or more. It had been No. 3 in 2008.

CQ Press, based in Washington, uses FBI crime data for murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and auto theft to compile its crime rate rankings.

Other Alabama cities ranked:

• 99. Montgomery (previously No. 152)
• 106. Mobile (previously No. 136, making it the only Alabama city to climb in the rankings)
• 109. Huntsville (previously No. 95)
• 183. Tuscaloosa (previously No. 140)

St. Louis topped the list at No. 1.

Metro rankings

In looking at the 2010 Metropolitan Crime Rate Rankings:

• 19. Mobile (previously No. 20)
• 28. Anniston-Oxford (not previously ranked)
• 35. Birmingham-Hoover (previously No. 21)
• 67. Montgomery (previously No. 101)
• 80. Tuscaloosa (previously No. 64)
• 122. Huntsville (previously No. 123)
• 150. Gadsden (previously No. 141)
• 219. Florence-Muscle Shoals (not previously ranked)

(Not available: Auburn, Decatur, Dothan.)

Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich., is No. 1 on the list.

See, print or download the City and Metropolitan Crime Rate Rankings for 2010 below.

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Visit our Crime Watch page.

Birmingham ranks No. 4 on FBI overall crime list

Birmingham is winning the war on crime. Homicide is down 21 percent, violent crime down 13 percent and property crime down 10 percent, according to the 2009 Uniform Crime Report from the FBI. Overall, crime is down 10 percent in the metro area.

And yet, crime is down everywhere, at even better rates than in Birmingham.

The result? Birmingham came in at No. 4 nationally in overall crime for 2009, a slight change from placing No. 3 in 2008.

The city came in at No. 7 in the most recent CQ Press’ annual city crime rankings, announced late in 2009.

Homicide dropped to its lowest tally since 2004, with 71 murders in 2009, of which the FBI tallied 65 (the rest ruled justifiable and not counted). Across Jefferson County, the number of murders dropped 8 percent, from 125 in 2008 to 115 in 2009.

The city is safer. But among other U.S. cities, not nearly safe enough.

Also:

• Birmingham News: “Birmingham crime rate down overall; still ranks 4th in U.S.”

Is Birmingham losing the war on perception when it comes to crime? Tell us in the comments.

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Visit our Crime Watch page.

Despite drop in major crimes, city jumps from eighth place in 2008

Birmingham may be seeing welcome relief when it comes to crime, but not enough to sway its ranking in the CQ Press’ annual city crime rankings released today. The city again made the Top 10, placing at No. 7.

In 2008, the city ranked eighth, and in 2007 and 2006, it placed sixth.

Last week, Birmingham reported a 12 percent drop in major crime in 2009, including a 25 percent drop in homicides.

The Washington-based publisher used crime data reported to the FBI in six areas: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. In previous years, CQ Press referred to the rankings as the “Most Dangerous Cities” list, but dropped the designation this year.

Other Alabama cities ranked:

95. Huntsville
136. Mobile
140. Tuscaloosa
152. Montgomery

Camden, N.J. topped that list.

In the list of 2009 Metropolitan Crime Rate Rankings, Birmingham-Hoover came in at No. 21. Also on that list from Alabama:

11. Columbus, GA-AL
20. Mobile
64. Tuscaloosa
101. Montgomery
123. Huntsville
141. Gadsden
159. Dothan

Pine Bluff, Ark., is No. 1 on the list.

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Visit our Crime Watch page.

One bright spot in the turmoil that is Birmingham? Crime is down 12 percent in the first three quarters of this year, including a 25 percent drop in homicides.

Birmingham police chief A.C. Roper said, “We’ve experienced a double digit decrease in major crimes this year in spite of a bad economy,” crediting community support and his officers for the results.

So far, Birmingham has had 62 homicides to date this year, compared to 78 by this point in 2008. But will the drop in crime be enough to change the city’s Top 10 ranking among America’s most dangerous cities?

We’ll find out Monday.

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Visit our Crime Watch page.

Down from No. 6 last year

Birmingham remains in the Top 10 cities in major crime, according to Washington-based CQ Press. The city ranked No. 8 on the Most Dangerous Cities list for 2008, while Alabama ranked No. 15 among most dangerous states. The list came out Monday.

Birmingham-Hoover is No. 31 among most dangerous metropolitan areas.

The publisher used crime data reported to the FBI in six areas: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. For more, see “City Crime Rankings 2008-2009.”

Other Alabama cities ranked:

83. Huntsville
90. Montgomery
131. Tuscaloosa
156. Mobile

New Orleans is No. 1 on the list.

Birmingham has 79 homicides to date this year, compared to 93 for 2007.

For more, see “Birmingham Ranked 8th Most Dangerous City.”

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Visit our Crime Watch page.

Go Packers: He made Hoover High into repeat state champions, and “Two-a-Days” made him into a reality star. But then football coach Rush Propst lost his job as rules violations and a second family came to light. Nowadays, he’s down in Georgia’s Colquitt County trying to rebuild its once successful program. Plus, he’s doing it for a paltry $95,000 (in a one-year contract) instead of the $100,600 he was making in Hoover.

His wife and two of his children remain in Hoover, while his oldest son will join him on the team. (As in his current family, not his out-of-wedlock family.)

How serious is his new school about football? It has spent or committed $2.9 million toward stadium renovations and a new field house. And for those fans who miss seeing him talk pigskin, check out the interview by a student at his new school.
• Propst on different turf but goal remains same [The Birmingham News]

Soul control: The other reality sensation to come from Hoover High, one Taylor Hicks, has signed with a new label. The American Idol/Broadway singer has landed at Vanguard Records and plans to release his next disc in August under his own brand, Modern Whomp Records.
•Hicks finds niche [New York Post]

On patrol: How’s new Birmingham police chief A.C. Roper doing so far? Seven months in, the former Hoover assistant chief will hold a second Community Crime Fighting Forum at 6 tonight at the South Precinct [map]. Roper will listen to citizens’ concerns and outline his plan to fight crime. Meanwhile, 2008 has seen 34 homicides, about even with last year’s 33 homicides through June 23. Visit our Crime Watch page for continuing coverage.
• Birmingham Police Chief Roper to hold second crime forum for neighborhoods [The Birmingham News]

Also:

• Birmingham applies to host 2020 Olympics’ viewing party
• SUV drivers flock to farmers’ market for organic produce
• City leaders adopt four-day workweek, doubling time on job

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If your TV set and DVR haven’t been stolen, tune in at 7 tonight for the oddly named “Birmingham 35911,” an hourlong report from Alabama Public Television on the city’s struggles with violent crime. Randy Scott will serve as host for this installment of the news series, “Alabama Stories.”

“What’s being done to fight crime in Alabama’s largest city? Some federal statistics suggest there could be an increase in violence in the Magic City. As a new police chief settles in at city hall, this program explores what’s being done to stop this alarming trend.”

(APT will likely make the program available afterwards on its video page, which you can watch if your computer hasn’t been stolen.)

And be sure to visit our Crime Watch page, with the latest on Birmingham under siege. Fun fact: For 2008, we’re at 19 homicides, more than 50 percent ahead of last year at this time with a measly 12.

What is to be done?

Then and now

Hello, Larry: After a relatively subdued campaign, Jefferson County commissioner Larry Langford bested nine other candidates to become Birmingham’s mayor. Soon thereafter, second-place finisher Patrick Cooper challenged Langford’s residency in court, only to drop it two months later.

The mayor-elect wasted no time in stirring things up, even though he wouldn’t officially take office until November. (See below.)

Check out his inauguration on Nov. 13 …

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