Round Rock tops safest city list

AUSTIN (KXAN) - One Central Texas city has been ranked one of the safest cities in America. Round Rock ranks 19 out of 385 cities, it is the city's fourth year in a row in the top 20 of the CQ Press poll. Round Rock police, city leaders and especially those who live her have something to be proud of. The crime ranking is based on statistics reported in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. Based on the numbers, this city is getting it right.

"It makes me feel secure living here," said Kim Copeland, a Round Rock resident. "I agree it is a quiet and safe place to live." That is why Copeland left Houston, which ranked 338th, and now calls Round Rock home. She said Houston was not a place to raise her children."In Houston, you watch the 10 o'clock news and first they go through how many were killed the day before," said Copeland. That does not happen in Round Rock. In 2007, there was one homicide and the suspect was caught. In 2008, one homicide so far and a suspect has been arrested in that case too.

"We did not have any substantial increase in violent crime in Round Rock at all," said Tim Ryle, assistant police chief with the Round Rock police department. That is one factor that has helped the medium-sized city earn the ranking as one of the safest cities in the state and in the country. The police will not take credit for the high ranking. "It's not as simply the police department out there doing their job," said Ryle. "I have good officers out there doing work, but it is a collaboration with the community."

The mayor agrees, crediting the hard work of police with the community and leaders working together to stamp out crime. "This is one of the times when it's fun to be a mayor," said Alan McGraw, Round Rock Mayor. "We do a survey every two years and one of the questions we ask is 'do you feel safe walking your neighborhood alone at home?'" But the city has dropped in the rankings, from 13 to 19. Police said it is petty crime.

"We see more cars getting broken into in parking lots and shopping centers," said Ryle. "we see more vehicle thieves." Something that citizens like Copeland vow to keep an eye on and report if she sees it in her neighborhood.