Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, took the podium at a press conference on Monday, Aug. 25, addressing the President’s plan to send military forces to Chicago in an effort to reduce crime. In his speech, Pritzker stated, “Memphis, Tennessee; Hattiesburg, Mississippi have higher crime rates than Chicago, and yet Donald Trump is sending troops here and not there? Ask yourself why.”
Mayor Toby Barker took to X with his response, “…Every crime is a tragedy- and no real leader ever cheers on another city’s challenges…” Barker also pointed out that Hattiesburg has one homicide for this year.
According to crimegrade.org, which gives overall crime grades based on the type and severity of the crime, gave Hattiesburg a B+, indicating that Hattiesburg has a lower crime rate than that of the average U.S. city. Hattiesburg’s violent crime rate was given an A+, property crime rate was given a B and other crime rate was given a B-. The overall crime rate in Hattiesburg is 17.85 per 1,000 residents and the cost of crime per household for the year is estimated to be $565.
The same source gave Chicago an overall crime grade of C-, indicating that the crime rate was higher than the average U.S. city. Chicago’s violent crime rate was given a C, property crime was given a C- and other crime rate was given a C-. The overall crime rate in Chicago is 28.17 per 1,000 residents and the cost of crime per household for the year is estimated to be $1,217.
While many residents of Hattiesburg believe Pritzker misspoke, naming Hattiesburg instead of Jackson, he would still be mistaken. Jackson was given an overall crime grade of B, with an A- in violent crime, B- in property crime and C+ in other crime. It’s estimated that the cost of crime per household for the year in Jackson is $809, and the crime rate is 20.34 per 1,000 residents.
Attempts to reach Barker or Pritzker were unsuccessful.
