Deputy Police Chief with the Windsor Police Service Vince Power says crimes against people are down 16% year-over-year as of September.
Despite Windsor seeing a homicide case opened this month after an assault on October 19 was reclassified as a homicide after the October 27 death of the victim, Power says it's the first of 2016 — a year which has seen fewer homicide cases than is the average.
"Our ten year average is just over three homicides a year. A couple years we have four homicides and a couple years we've had two homicides ," says Power. "Right now we stand at one homicide."
In addressing the improved crime stats, Power points to public participation as key.
"I'm happy and I'm pleased," says Power. "What it really means is the public is working with the police. We have some excellent initiatives going on, our officers are working hard I know that, but we wouldn't be getting the results we are getting without cooperation from the public."
Social media may be having some influence as well.
Power says social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are proving to be powerful communication toosl for police.
"I would say that is a factor for us, it's certainly is a game changer, I just can't measure that," says Power.
The September 2016 crime statistics show property crime is relatively unchanged.
