Editorial: Crime Perception/Reality - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Crime Perception/Reality

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Perception and reality are not always on the same page.  One would think lately with all the instances of violent crime in the River Region that we are living in a war zone.

Some folks are quick to make dramatic generalizations that Montgomery is an unsafe place to live and work.  

Unfortunately we live in a world that does not lend itself to generalizing, and no matter how many safeguards are in place, bad things will happen. 

If you take a moment and step back from the perception and look at the reality - Montgomery in 2011 compared to 2010 had the lowest incidence of violent crime in more than 20 years – that's a fact.

In January of this year violent crime is down 20.8% compared to January 2011 - also a fact. 

Overall crime was down 5.8% in January 2012, compared with January 2011. 

Towns in and of themselves are not unsafe.  It's the people that live and work in a community that define a town. 

Montgomery city officials and law enforcement are not resting on previous years' laurels and continue to put measures in place to vigorously bring all unlawful perpetrators swiftly to justice and make our city as safe a place to live as another in the country. 

Making that a reality is something we can all support. 

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