VIOLENT CRIME IS UP IN DALLAS.

While overall crime is down about 2 percent so far this year compared to the first four months of 2014, that’s due to a drop in property crimes such as burglary and theft. Overall violent crime from January-April was up about 9 percent over the same period in 2014, according to a Dallas Police Department briefing for City Council in May.

Murder is the only violent crime category that has seen a drop. Twenty-seven people have been murdered in Dallas this year, compared to 37 in the first four months of 2014. The biggest jumps have been in sexual assaults and business robberies. There have been 191 rapes so far this year compared to 154 in the same period last year, a 29 percent increase. And businesses have been held up 236 times compared to 197 in 2014. That’s an increase of about 11 percent.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown told City Council that violent crime is flat in highcrime areas of the city, and it’s up in low-crime areas. Brown told Council members the department plans to be more aggressive in fighting violent crime. “Our officers will be put more in harm’s way to reduce violent crime,” he said. “But we will be careful to do our job in a way that respects citizens’ civil rights.”

Brown says the department plans to shift schedules to have more officers on the beat in high-crime areas at times when violent crimes statistically are more likely to happen. The department also could make more traffic and pedestrian stops and serve warrants on violent criminals, Brown said.

Last year, Dallas had the lowest murder rate since 1930.

—Rachel Stone

2 gunmen allegedly aiming to attack participants at the Muhammad Art Exhibit in May were shot and killed by a Garland police officer 5 officers were on duty, providing extra security at the controversial event, which took place at Garland’s Curtis Culwell Center

June 7, 2015

— Lake Highlands High School seniors will graduate at the same events center