Dallas had highest crime rate in 2004

DALLAS, March 19 (UPI) -- Dallas had the highest crime rate in 2004 among cities with more than 1 million residents, the Dallas Morning News reported Saturday.

Statistics released by police departments in the nation's nine largest cities revealed Dallas also had the second highest murder rate, the Morning News said.

Despite having the highest crime rate for the seventh consecutive year, the city's overall crime fell 4 percent. Decreases in the crime rates of other cities kept the rankings from changing.

"Our crime rate is too high and unacceptable," Police Chief David Kunkle said. "I think that we'll have dramatic reductions this year."

Kunkle announced a plan in January to cut all crime by 10 percent and homicides by 20 percent.