By Sarah Hall
Editor
Baldwinsville is one of 20 cities, towns and villages in New York state to be named among the 100 Safest Cities in America.
The list, ranked by security company Safewise, placed B’ville at 79 based on FBI crime statistics and population data. The company calculates the rate of violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery) per 1,000 people in each city with a population above a certain threshold. Those municipalities with populations lower than that threshold or who did not submit data to the FBI were not ranked. (The full list is available at https://www.safewise.com/safest-cities-america.)
In Baldwinsville, where the population is 7,805, the rate of violent crime is 0.13 per thousand. The rate of property crime (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) is 11.66 per thousand.
“I am very proud of our status and with the job our police department does,” said Village Mayor Dick Clarke. “It’s one reason people like living here.”
Baldwinsville Police Chief Michael Lefancheck said he, too, was pleased to see the ranking.
“I think that this ranking backs up what many Baldwinsville residents already know: that this is a wonderful place to live, raise a family, attend school and enjoy all the area has to offer,” Lefancheck said.
The chief pointed to the community-oriented nature of the police department as a factor in the village’s low crime rate.
“Since 1972 the philosophy has always been that we are a ‘Community Service’ police department, and that remains our sole focus today,” he said. “Having a close relationship with our residents and school district is paramount in our efforts to provide the level of service that is expected from our department.”
Lefancheck noted that officers regularly check on businesses overnight, remain visible on patrol and stay on top of traffic violations to ensure that the village remains a safe place for both residents and those just passing through.
“With our continued efforts and the support of the community, hopefully we will continue to be recognized in the future as a safe community to live and visit,” he said.
B’ville also received high marks from Niche.com, which provides reviews on schools, colleges, neighborhoods and cities. The village earned an A- in crime and safety and was ranked No. 45 out of 409 safest places to live in New York.
The Safewise report noted that crime overall has decreased significantly over the last two decades: in 1997, about six violent crimes were reported per 1,000 people in the U.S. In 2016, that number was 3.86. The same was true of property crimes, which dropped from a total of 11.5 million nationwide in 1997 to 7.9 million in 2016.
Other New York state towns in the top 100 included Lewisboro (ranked No. 1), Briar Cliff Manor (No. 9), Whitestown (No. 10), Stillwater (No. 14), Croton-On-Hudson (No. 16), Eden (No. 23), Horseheads (No. 41), Harrison (No. 53), North Castle (No. 63), New Castle (No. 70), Highlands (No. 77), Pleasantville (No. 86), Mount Hope (No. 90), Carmel (No. 92), Walden (No. 93), Tuckahoe (No. 94) and Kent (No. 97).
