CMPD disputes report’s crime ranking for North Tryon corridor

Neighborhoodscout.com‘s finding that the North Tryon corridor — roughly the area between North Graham Street, Atando Avenue, Brevard Street and the Brookshire Freeway — belongs on the list of the 25 most dangerous neighborhoods in America does not sit well with Robert Tufano.

Tufano, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department spokesman, says the report is inaccurate, although he could only provide figures for 2008 and 2009. He said that based on CMPD’s statistics, in 2009 there was a one-in-40 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. In 2008, there the odds were one in 30.

Neighborhoodscout’s report is supposedly based on FBI crime statistics.

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According to the website, annual stats show 108.94 crimes per every 1,000 residents. In other words, there is about a one-in-nine chance of being a crime victim in the area, according to the report.

CMPD Capt. Bruce Bellamy, who oversees the metro division, which contains much of the North Tryon corridor, said the report’s figures don’t match CMPD’s statistics. He also noted that the report grouped together multiple communities and labeled it as one neighborhood.

“We still have challenges and issues with the North Tryon corridor, but the area has seen a big reduction in crime,” he said.

Boykin can be reached at [email protected].