EL PASO 2ND SAFEST U.S. CITY

Ranking a Contrast to Violence Across Border

EL PASO -- A new ranking shows El Paso moved up to the second-safest
large city in the nation even while a vicious drug cartel war has
turned Juarez into one of the deadliest cities in the world. El Paso
trailed only Honolulu for the lowest crime rate for cities with more
than 500,000 population in an annual publication released Monday by
CQ Press. The ranking is based on crime data for 2008. Civic leaders
lauded the rating, saying it counters a negative perception that El
Paso is a violent place because of the killings across the border.

"I don't think the timing for this announcement could be any better,"
said Richard Dayoub, CEO and president of the Greater El Paso Chamber
of Commerce.

"We have spent a lot of time trying to get the message across the
country that El Paso is still one of the safest large cities in
America," Dayoub said.

Violent crime in El Paso -- which was ranked the No. 3 safest large
city last year -- has remained steady even as a drug war has claimed
more than 3,000 lives in Juarez since it began in January 2008. Last
year, there were 18 homicides in El Paso. There have been 11
homicides so far this year.

"I am proud of the work of the men and women of the El Paso Police
Department and the support of the community that helps us remain such
a safe city," Police Chief Greg Allen said in a statement.

In Juarez, daytime shootings on busy streets, massacres inside bars
and grisly mutilations and beheadings have become a common occurrence
as drug traffickers battle for control of a lucrative smuggling corridor.

Extortion, kidnappings and carjackings also increased to
unprecedented levels, causing some residents to flee to El Paso.

Last weekend, Chihuahua state police reported 31 murders in Juarez.
There have been more than 2,200 deaths this year.

The bloodshed has gained international attention. "Mexican city is
'murder capital of the world,'" stated a headline on a story about
Juarez in the London Telegraph newspaper.

Phil Jordan, a retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official
from El Paso, said the safe city label for El Paso is misleading
because cartels operate on both sides of the border.

"The narcotraffickers will not kill somebody in El Paso unless they
absolutely have to," Jordan said. "They will kidnap an individual,
take them to Mexico, torture and kill them. There won't be an
investigation and the person will simply disappear."

Jordan recommended that the U.S. and Mexico form a task force
supported by their respective militaries to quell violence that
remains rampant.

"It's long overdue. In Juarez, it never should have gotten to this
point," he said.

El Paso city Rep. Emma Acosta, who earlier this year hosted a
community meeting on the drug violence, said the latest ranking
should make residents feel secure even if concerns linger.

"I think it (the violence) makes El Pasoans nervous because it's
right across the border," Acosta said. "We can see the other side. I
can see Juarez from my office window. I think there is this
insecurity. Is it going to come over here?"

[sidebar]

RANKINGS

Lowest Crime

1. Honolulu. 2. El Paso. 3. New York City. 4. San Jose, Calif. 5.
Austin. 6. San Diego. 7. Seattle. 8. Portland, Ore. 9. Denver. 10. Los Angeles.

Highest Crime

1. Detroit. 2. Memphis, Tenn. 3. Baltimore. 4. Washington, D.C. 5.
Atlanta. 6. Philadelphia. 7. Indianapolis. 8. Columbus, Ohio. 9.
Milwaukee. 10. Dallas.

Source: CQ Press City Crime Rankings 2009-2010 for cities of 500,000
or more population.