With each passing year, most of us tend to think the world gets a little “worse.”

Nostalgically, we look to the current state of society and compare to the “good old days” and think things were better back then.

But in Natchez, at least, some things appear to have improved in the last several years.

Amazingly, one of those things is the crime rate. In the City of Natchez, crime has actually fallen in the last eight years. The reason for this is multi-faceted.

Among the most important reasons is the ongoing focus on community policing — putting officers in the streets with the people, getting out of their patrol cars and walking around.

Another key component in crime prevention is you. That’s right — residents are a huge resource for police officers and investigators. Quite simply, law enforcement officers cannot be everywhere at every moment so they need all the eyes and ears they can get on their side of the good guys vs. bad guys line.

The statistics about crime are also proven through the fact that, other than the occasional vandalism, few crimes in Natchez go unsolved. From the BB gun vandal to the home invasion spree that terrorized residents in late 2007 and early 2008, most Natchez criminals eventually get caught.

We’re happy to report that crime stats show a lower crime rate, and we’re glad that the Natchez Police are working hard to reduce crime and protect our citizens.