DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Each week Captain (and soon to be Commander) Blake Chow, Commanding Officer of LAPD's Central Division, sends out an email to the community. Captain Chow has agreed to let blogdowntown bring his emails to our readers.

As of Dec 5, 2009 Central reported the following crime numbers. All numbers are YTD unless otherwise noted.

Year to date crime dropped again this week.

• Violent Crime down 11 percent.
• Homicides are up 25 percent ( 5 vs 4);
• Rapes are down 21 percent;
• Robbery is down 6 percent

• Agg Assaults down 15 percent.

• Property Crime is down 8 percent

• Burglary is down 21 percent
• Grand Theft Auto is down 25 percent
• Burgl from Motor vehicle is down 1 percent
• Personal Theft is down percent

Total Part I Crimes are down 9 percent for the division.

The Captain that will be taking my place is Captain III Todd Chamberlain.

He and I worked at Hollenbeck together when I was the Area Commanding Officer. He has extensive experience in LAPD operations, community relations, emergency operations etc and will serve the downtown community, well.