Middletown Reports Lowest Crime Rate Since FBI Started Tracking

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — According to the 2019 FBI Uniform Crime Report, released last week, Middletown has once again achieved the lowest crime index in New Jersey for communities with populations of 50,000 residents or more.

Middletown was No. 1 on the FBI's list for those sized towns, followed by Parsippany-Troy Hills, Jackson, Howell and Old Bridge.

Year over year, Middletown has consistently ranked as one of the safest towns in New Jersey. But 2019 was a standout, with Middletown recording the lowest number of crimes on record, or since the FBI first started releasing its Uniform Crime Report.

“This is the lowest crime rate in Middletown since the inception of the Uniform Crime Report,” said Middletown Police Chief R. Craig Weber. “Our agency’s proactive approach in targeting crime, along with the community’s support, has proven to be an effective strategy."

The Uniform Crime Report calculates the crime rate based on the number of "Part 1" crimes reported per every 1,000 residents. Part 1 crimes include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson. Police and the FBI also call Part 1 crimes "index crimes."

Index crimes are down 7.5 percent over 2018 and down 55 percent since 2009, according to Middletown's police chief.

In 2019, the crime rate in Middletown was 5.75, according to the FBI.

Chief Weber attributed the success to community policing in Middletown and "an outstanding relationship we enjoy with our residents and steadfast support from our governing body."

“These statistics showcase the professionalism of the men and women of our world-class police department,” said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry. “Middletown is continually recognized as one of the safest places to live because of their dedication and community-oriented approach to policing.”

Middletown police offer things like child safety seat installations, Police Youth Week camps, Police Explorers, Project Plus, Rude Awakening and the Law Enforcement Against Drugs program, which utilizes the Too Good for Drugs curriculum in Middletown's elementary schools.

The Middletown Police Department has also been recognized by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for being one of only 10 law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and one of 313 nationwide to complete the Missing Kids Readiness Project, which promotes best practices for taking and responding to calls of missing and sexually exploited children.

Middletown police have a designated anti-crime unit to address and respond more quickly to illegal activity, as well as a Community Relations Bureau, meant to foster positive relationships with the community.

This summer, Middletown once again made the top 100 safest cities list in the United States, according to a report by home security review site SafeWise. Last August, Middletown was lauded the #1 safest small city in New Jersey and seventh in the nation by Frontpoint Security. Middletown has also been voted one of the “Best Places to Live” by MONEY Magazine four times and ranked one of the safest towns nationwide to retire in by badcredit.org, a financial awareness website.

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