Mayor Tom McNamara speaks to reporters Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at City Hall in Rockford. He shared the latest crime statistics and other city initiatives. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Violent crime is up 3% in Rockford through October, according to data released by the city on Friday.

The data also shows that violent crime related to domestic violence was up nearly 10%.

Mayor Tom McNamara said it shows the city needs to continue to focus its efforts on curbing domestic violence, as it has with the Family Peace Center and other initiatives.

The city has long said that the majority of young people who are arrested have either been victims of or witnesses to violence as children.

“We really need a strong communitywide push … to stop the cycle of violence,” McNamara said. “We have to start addressing that unmitigated trauma. That unmitigated trauma isn’t just playing out in our streets. It’s playing in our classrooms. It’s playing out in our school hallways. We have to really address youth trauma and do it in a holistic fashion that everyone is swimming in the same direction.”

Related: Rockford organization focuses on cure, not response to violence

The Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention includes a team that works to identify children who experienced violence at home in order to help them deal with the trauma.

In announcing the latest crime statistics, McNamara also gave credit to the Rockford Police Department for its work removing illegal weapons from the community. Data shared Friday shows 72% more guns have been seized by police this year compared to 2020.

There have been 20 homicides in the city so far this year. There were 36 killings in the city in 2020, the most on record going back to 1965.

Crime stats

Here’s a look at the data shared Friday by the Rockford Police Department. It covers January through October.

Violent crime: 2020: 1,863; 2021: 1,925 (+3%)

Robbery: 2020: 218; 2021: 203 (-7%)

Property crimes: 2020: 3,552; 2021: 3,199 (-10%)

Auto thefts: 2020: 338; 2021: 374 (+11%)

Shots fired: 2020: 568; 2021: 622 (+10%)

Aggravated assault: 2020: 1,471; 2021: 1,549 (+5%)

Guns recovered: 2020: 230; 2021: 395 (+72%)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.