01/23/07 Family Service of Rhode Island Helps Cut Crime in Providence   "How do you stop further violence?  You impact victims, you make sure that they get immediate response and immediate treatment and support," said Family Service of Rhode Island CEO Margaret Holland McDuff at a press conference announcing Providence's lowest four-year crime reduction in decades.  (Quote is from January 23, 2007 Providence Journal story, which you can read in its entirety as long as the link is available by clicking here.) Mayor David N. Cicilline (at podium), Colonel Dean Esserman (left), Family Service of RI CEO Margaret Holland McDuff (to right of Mayor) and other officials mark the decrease in crime. Surrounded by a broad range of community leaders, including Ms. Holland McDuff, and Providence police officers, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and police chief Colonel Dean Esserman on Monday (January 22, 2007) publicly thanked the men and women of the Providence Police Department and the community for their strong partnerships in helping to create safer neighborhoods. The latest statistics compiled by the Providence Police Department show that homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and larceny decreased 12% in 2006.  During the four year period between 2002 and 2006, overall crime in the city decreased by 34% Colonel Esserman attributed the dramatic decrease in crime to several factors, including: the hard work of the men and women of the Providence Police Department; citywide community policing; the establishment of the Gun Task Force; strong historic partnerships with the other law enforcement agencies; community leaders; colleges and universities; and a host of social services such as Family Service of Rhode Island's Police Go Team and the Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence. For more information, you can read the mayor's press release by clicking here. (end)