Pearl, Miss.— Pearl is one of the safest cities in Mississippi and the 2021 crime statistics show why that is the case. A report compiled by the Pearl Police Department revealed an already low crime rate dropped to its lowest level in more than four years and traffic enforcement numbers dramatically increased.
“I am extremely proud of the work of the entire Pearl Police Department,” said Mayor Jake Windham. “The investment we have made in hiring and training officers, as well as state-of-the-art equipment has definitely paid dividends.”
In a city of more than 27,000 residents, nearly 11,000 homes and more than 1,000 businesses there were no murders and one reported armed robbery. There were just 13 reported house burglaries, eight business burglaries and 13 auto thefts. Traffic accidents were down, while citations written and intoxicated drivers arrested increased.
“The vigilance of our officers to keep the roads safe is definitely saving lives,” said Mayor Windham. “Chief Dean Scott has done a great job of leveraging funds from state grants and his city budget to keep a constant presence around the city. I also believe the commitment to traffic enforcement has kept our other crime numbers low as our officers often encounter people in possession of illegal drugs, weapons and outstanding warrants on traffic stops. We are all dedicated to making Pearl a great place to ‘Live, Work and Play’ every day.”
The following is a comparison of 2018 vs. 2021 based on both percentage of crimes per 1,000 people and the actual number.
Category 2018 2021
(% is per 1,000 people) % total % total
Robberies .15 4 .04 1
Murders .04 1 0 0
Auto Burglaries 2.3 60 1.89 49
Auto Theft .98 25 .52 13
Home Burglaries 1.06 27 .49 13
Business Burglaries .41 10 .30 8
Traffic Citations 8,522 17,941
Traffic Accidents 2,490 1,699
DUI Arrests 91 444
Total Arrests (misdemeanor & felony) 3,182 4,803
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