Norristown Shows Significant Reduction In Nearly All Crimes

NORRISTOWN, PA -- Across the board, crimes like homicide, rape, assault, robbery, and arson have significantly decreased in Norristown, according to new data published Wednesday by the police department.

The data sets compare crime in the borough between 2014 and 2016 to crime that occurred from 2011 to 2013, before the police force's current crime reduction strategy was implemented.

"We are...pleased to announce the significant reduction in crime achieved by the great men and women of the department," said Norristown Police Chief Mark Talbot. "I am very proud of the department as well as the countless number of citizens that have helped to make Norristown a significantly safer place to live and work."

Among the most significant decreases is a 66 percent drop in rape: there were 17 incidents in the last two years, compared to 50 in the two years before that. Aggravated assaults have decreased 40 percent, from 410 to 247, and burglary has decreased 42 percent, from 783 to 453.

Homicides showed very little change, with nine incidents in the last two years compared to 11 incidents from 2011 to 2013.The full table is below:

Violent crimes in general have been reduced 38 percent, and all serious crimes have been reduced by an average of 31 percent.

It was just a little less than two years ago that Norristown was included on lists of the 100 most dangerous cities in America, according to data gathered from the FBI, U.S. Justice Department, and local law enforcement.

The reduction in crime, along with increased development in the area, shows that Norristown could be headed for a revival.

However, like in most of Montgomery County and the nation, heroin remains a major problem for the borough. There has been a 213 percent increase in fatal overdoses, and a 300 percent increases in non-fatal overdoses over the last two years. That's led to a total of 41 overdose fatalities, statistics show.

The majority of these fatalities occurred in the southwest (24) and southeast (15) sections of the borough.

Drug possession was the only category of crime that has increased over the past two years, with arrests rising from 607 to 680.

The majority of overdose victims in the borough are white males between the ages of 26 and 51.

"We look forward to continuing to find ways to ensure that we are serving Norristown in the most effective and progressive ways available," Talbot added.

Police departments in every Montgomery County municipality, including Norristown, now carry the reversal drug Naloxone. There were a total of 847 doses administered in 2016, including 621 reversals or saves.

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