Results from a national study released Monday, Dec. 1, found that the Town of Colonie is the ninth safest community in the United States.
The study, conducted by CQ Press, an independent publishing company, examined statistical data on crime statistics, that including crime per population size, for more than 400 communities throughout the country.
Many of the communities examined had populations of over 75,000.
A town the size of Colonie is typically projected to have more crime based on its population. Colonie has more than 80,000 residents, and the town is the second biggest municipality in Albany County next to the City of Albany. Its area covers nearly 60 square miles.
The top three safest communities in the same category, according to CQ Press, were Ramapo, N.Y., Mission Viejo, Calif., and O’Fallon, Mo.
Supervisor Paula Mahan credited the police department and school districts with having a major impact on the overall safety of the town.
No one person can take the credit for this achievement, said Mahan. `It is something we all play a role in attaining, and it is a testament to the strength of our community.`
According to Colonie Police Chief Steve Heider, the safety of Colonie is a collaborative effort between all departments in the town, including the senior services department and the parks and recreation department.
`It’s a combination of efforts that create that safe town designation,` said Heider. `It’s a safety-conscious community.`
Heider said this is not the first year the town has been credited as being one of the safest communities in America, although the ranking it received this year is the highest it has ever received. He also noted that since 2007, the Town of Colonie’s crime rate is down by 19 percent.
Heider said crime has continued to drop every year, and he hopes that will continue in years to come.
While he did not attribute the safety of the community entirely to the police, Heider said there have been a few factors this year that could have contributed to the high rating on the CQ Press study.
`We’re at full staffing for the first time in five years,` Heider said, stating that the Colonie police department suffered from `heavy retirements` in the early part of the decade.
Another factor Heider said could have contributed to the safety of the town is the high police presence seen townwide.
`We have a very high visibility — we hear that from criminals,` Heider said. `And that’s always been a priority of ours.`
Heider said that 99 percent of Colonie police officers live within the town.
`It just creates the atmosphere of, ‘You know what, maybe I should go somewhere else to commit a crime,’` he said.“