KUTV, a television station and CBS affiliate in Salt Lake City, reports on data from the Department of Public Safety that shows a decline “in aggravated assaults, kidnappings, rapes and murders” in the city in 2024 compared to the previous year. The numbers are promising, but Chris Burbank, Law Enforcement Strategy Consultant at CPE and former Salt Lake City Police Chief, urges caution when looking at short-term versus long-term outcomes:
“What we really want to see is a long trend line that is showing a downward decline,” Burbank said. “You’re going to get little bumps, but by and large, crime over the last 30 years has been declining.”
Burbank highlighted the importance of addressing systemic issues rather than relying solely on policing.
“Our goal is not a low number; our goal is zero when it comes to crime and disorder in our communities,” he said.
According to Burbank, crime reduction is more effectively achieved by improving access to education, job opportunities and mental healthcare.
He said, "We're not relying on the criminal justice system to solve these, we're relying on medical treatments to solve these, which is much more effective.”
Read the full article on KUTV’s website.