DANVILLE, Va. – Crime didn’t take a holiday but it has dropped dramatically in Danville over the past three years.

Danville Police Chief Scott Booth and other members of his department outlined the statistics during a Tuesday press conference.

Since taking over as chief of police, Booth has implemented more community policing efforts and has stressed community engagement with his officers.  That effort is paying off on the streets.

Data released Tuesday shows the average total of violent crime incidents from 2016 to 2018 was 267 per year. From 2019 to 2021, that number dropped to 132 per year. That’s a drop of more than 50% in the past three years.

Burglaries, robberies and property crimes are at their lowest level in 35 years. Aggravated assaults are being solved at 81%, which is the highest rate on record for the city.

Booth arrived in Danville in 2018 and has been a visible presence in the city. As chief, he has initiated a number of crime-reduction initiatives, including the Youth Police Academy, police walks through neighborhoods where violent crimes have occurred, and the Heal and Engage outreach effort.