Crime in Richmond drops under new police policies

Although it is notorious for its crime rates, the city of Richmond has actually seen a decline in its crime rate in the past couple of years. According to one source, the city was the seventh most dangerous in the country in 2006; last year, it dropped to 14th.

Some say the credit should go to Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus, who took office in 2006. His previous position was in North Dakota, causing many people to worry that he wouldn't be adept at dealing with such a diverse community.

But soon after he took office, he launched a community policing program, and called for a change of attitude in the police force. Chief Magnus tells KALW’s Ben Trefny about the changes, saying “we really tried to make sure that we are hiring a diverse group of officers.”