For the Rapids City Times

GRAND RAPIDS – The town of Grand Rapids has been ranked the 82nd “Safest Town in America,” according to the 2018 SafeWise Report on the 100 Safest Cities in America.

“Our officers are serious about the safety and security of all residents in the town of Grand Rapids, as well as the visitors who come to enjoy the peace and quiet of our community,” said Grand Rapids Police Chief Mel Pedersen. “With the great community support and cooperation, our department is better able to serve everyone, residents, and visitors alike.”

Pederson says that it is “a community honor attributable to the cooperation and leadership of many. The residents of Grand Rapids, town employees, Police Department, Fire Department, town crew, Town Board and all the various town committees played a significant part in achieving this recognition.”

SafeWise’s evaluation is based on the number of reported violent crimes – aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery – in each city. Ties are broken by factoring in the number of property crimes – burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. To level the playing field, they calculate the rate of crimes per 1,000 people in each city; this makes it easier to directly compare the likelihood of these crimes occurring in cities or townships with vastly different populations.

The rankings reflect the town’s continuous efforts to provide a safe community and keep crime rates down; including increased training opportunities for all sworn police officers, increased home and business checks, and active participation in Wisconsin Department of Transportation traffic safety initiatives.

“As the town chairman and a board member for over 20 years, I am proud to see that our efforts to provide great police, fire, and EMS services have been recognized,” said Grand Rapids Town Chair Arne Nystrom.

Check out the full report here: http://www.safewise.com/safest-cities-america.