For the sixth year in a row, Sterling Heights has been named the safest big city in Michigan.
The FBI’s annual report found the city’s was listed as the safest area with a population over 100,000 in both property and violent crimes for 2024. In addition, the FBI ranked Sterling Heights as the safest overall in the state.
The ongoing success is tied to the city’s proactive law enforcement practices, joint efforts between residents and police, and initiatives to improve local communities.
In a news release issued late Monday, Mayor Michael Taylor called the the honor “evidence of of what we call the Sterling Standard.”
“This distinction is a result of the hard work and professionalism of our police department, as well as the strong partnership they’ve built with our residents,” Taylor said.
“Safety has always been a cornerstone of our community, and we remain committed to ensuring Sterling Heights is not only the safest big city in Michigan, but also one of the best places to live, work and raise a family.”
The data came from from the U.S. Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation – Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program 2024 Crime Data Explorer.
It shows from 2023 to 2024, property crime decreased by 45%.
Macomb County’s second most-populated community also reported the lowest violent crime rate among all Michigan communities over 100,000 population at 305 total violent crimes for the year, which is just under Dearborn, 15% lower than Ann Arbor and 59% lower than Warren.
Sterling Heights also recorded the lowest property crime rate among all Michigan communities over 100,000 population at 1,387 for the year, which is 32% lower than Ann Arbor and 34% lower than Dearborn and Warren.
Sterling Heights is already one of the safest cities in the nation among cities with populations over 100,000. These most recent crime statistics show a continued trend of safety in Sterling Heights, officials said.
Police Chief Andy Satterfield stated the FBI’s findings underscore the department’s collaborative team approach to crime prevention. That includes a team approach between the officers, residents, and businesses.
“Being named safest big city in Michigan is a testament to the men and women of our department who put their lives on the line each day to protect our community,” Satterfield said in a statement. “It also speaks to the trust and cooperation we share with our residents, who play an essential role in helping us keep crime low.”
The city’s most recent resident survey from 2021 revealed 97% of respondents said they feel safe in their neighborhood during the day and 86% are satisfied with the overall quality of police protection in Sterling Heights, which is 16% above the regional average and 23% higher than the national average.
Also, 75% are satisfied with the city’s efforts to prevent crime, and 74% are satisfied with the quality of their interaction with the Sterling Heights Police Department.
Over the past few years, several factors have helped keep a lid on crime, including funding approved by city council in 2021 to hire new seven new officers who engage in community policing efforts through a community services bureau and directed neighborhood patrols.
The police department has also led the way as a pioneer in innovative substance abuse programs like the Comeback Quick Response Team and the Re-Direct drug diversion programs. Officials say the initiatives have been successful in targeting the root cause of most crime, which primarily is substance abuse, and getting addicts into treatment rather than repeating the cycle of incarceration, relapse and additional crime.
City leaders say during the past year, the police department completed a community mental wellness strategic plan that led to the integration of social services into public safety efforts through creation of a crisis intervention team, embedding case workers to address residents with mental health needs and creating a special needs registry to assist officers in responding appropriately to homes with residents who have disabilities.
Those efforts have resulted in a 60% decrease in reported overdoses in Sterling Heights, while overdose deaths have fallen by nearly 50% since their peak in 2021. The police department, in partnership with Face Addiction Now (FAN), has been recognized for its critical work in saving lives and strengthening community health.
