Decrease in Houston's Crime Rate reported

Can we trust the numbers?

After two consecutive years of increases, the number and rate of Houston homicides dropped in 2007.

The city had 351 homicides through Dec. 31 down from 376 in 2006, HPD spokesman John Cannon said.

That's 14.4 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2007, compared with 15.9 during 2006. In 2005, Houston recorded 336 homicides, a rate of 14.3 percent.

HPD homicide Capt. Steve Jett credited an increase in patrols as well as overtime dollars for the decrease in overall crime, which affects the homicide rate.

What happened to the news story where it was reported that Houston was down playing its' crime statistics? Perhaps this is it.