Fond du Lac Again Ranked Second Safest Metro Area
The Reporter Staff and The Associated Press November 22, 2005
For the second consecutive year, Fond du Lac has been recognized as the second safest metropolitan area in the United States by Morgan Quitno. The firm publishes City Crime Rankings, an annual reference book of crime statistics and rankings.
The Safest City Award is based on a city's rate for six basic crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.
"I feel that this recognition is a result of the joint efforts of our department, our community, business and Fond du Lac County law enforcement partners, and our citizens that join us in making Fond du Lac a safe place to live, learn, work and play," said Fond du Lac Police Chief Tony Barthuly.
Logan, Utah, was the safest metropolitan area in the country, according to the rankings.
Six other Wisconsin metropolitan areas were ranked in the top 25 — Appleton at fourth, Sheboygan fifth, La Crosse seventh, Oshkosh-Neenah eighth, Eau Claire 11th and Wausau 14th.
No Wisconsin city was on the list of the most dangerous metro areas.
Wisconsin 's overall crime rate dropped by 5.8 percent in 2004, according to the latest figures available from the state Office of Justice Assistance. The office compiles crime statistics from local police agencies. It found crime dropped in nearly every category, including a 13.9 percent decrease in murder from 2003. It was the ninth time in the last 10 years the state experienced a decline in crime.
A stable economy and an effective justice system have helped keep crime relatively low in Wisconsin, according to David O. Steingraber, the office's executive director.
"A number of factors come together in Wisconsin to give us that benefit," Steingraber said. "Governmentally, we make public safety a priority."
In addition to the metro areas, Morgan Quitno also ranked the safest and most dangerous cities with populations of 75,000 or more. No Wisconsin city appeared among the top or bottom 25 cities.
For the second year in a row, Camden, N.J., a former industrial city across the Delaware River, was named the nation's most dangerous city.
Camden, ware River from Philadelphia, is known for a history of corrupt politicians, drug-dealing and murders. It has been among the top 10 in the most dangerous city rankings in each of the eight years Morgan Quitno released figures. By most measures, it is also among the nation's poorest.
The top 10 safest metropolitan areas in the country, according to Morgan Quitno Press in its annual "City Crime Rankings" released Monday:
1. Logan, Utah
2. Fond du Lac, Wis.
3. Glens Falls, N.Y.
4. Appleton, Wis.
5. Sheboygan, Wis.
6. Columbus, Ind.
7. La Crosse, Wis.
8. Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis.
9. Bangor, Maine
10. Bismarck, N.D.
