Good news: Houston's safe! Now watch your back

Houston's 2006 crime statistics were announced yesterday, and there's some good news: The city's overall crime rate fell 5 percent last year, meaning you're less likely to be robbed, raped, assaulted or have your car stolen. But while we're patting ourselves on the back, we might want to be a little careful we don't get murdered: Houston's homicide rate increased by 5 percent last year. Around every silver lining, there's a dark cloud.

According to police statistics, crime rates have fallen since the summer, particularly in October, November and December. HPD and Mayor Bill White credited that drop in part to targeted law enforcement in the sections of town that had the highest crime in late 2005. The department put more officers on patrol in those areas and used overtime to extend the force's effectiveness, and violent crime dropped in seven of those eight areas last year, White said yesterday. That's good news and all, but we might not want to get used to it: According to KHOU, funding for HPD's overtime program is being cut, as are the number of police academy classes. Unnamed sources within HPD told Channel 11 that White denied HPD Chief Harold Hurtt's request for $15 million to fund overtime police patrols through June, news that Hurtt delivered to his command staff at a retreat in Galveston yesterday.

Several officers called City Councilman Michael Berry about the situation, and he told Channel 11 he shares their concern (and supports the war in Iraq, just in case you wondered): “You know the national government found $340 billion to fight the world in Iraq because it’s our highest priority. And our highest priority in Houston is this crisis situation with crime, and we’ve got to find the money to put more officers on the street,” Berry said. He added that none of the City Council members knew about the cuts during yesterday's council meeting where White and Hurtt announced the dropping crime rate.

White reminded KHOU that he's spent $114 million on public safety since he's been in office and said he would be talking with Washington to see how the city might use some public safety funds directed to the state.