Santa Clarita crime rates are the lowest on record due to the efforts of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, officials said.

“Part one” crimes – which include homicide, rape, robbery, burglary and arson – have been reduced by 20 percent from 2017 to 2018, surpassing the previous record set in 2014, according to a Sheriff’s Department report.

“Since incorporation, one of the City’s top priorities has been the safety of residents,” said Mayor Marsha McLean. “Santa Clarita has consistently been ranked as one of the safest cities in the nation, but we are always working with the Sheriff’s Department to ensure we stay vigilant and work together as a community to keep it that way.”

In 2017, the City of Santa Clarita was named the third safest city in America among cities of population size of 200,000 or more by the National Council for Home Safety and Security.

Crime statistics for 2018 have shown robberies are down 26 percent, burglaries are down more than 16 percent, grand theft autos are down 30 percent and assaults are down nearly 25 percent, according to officials.

“This significant decrease in crime is extraordinary given the challenging environment for law enforcement created by recent legislation and initiatives,” said City Manager Ken Striplin. “Assembly Bill 109 and Propositions 47 and 57 were intended to decrease the state prison population; however, the reality has been a rise in crime in communities across California.”

In 2011, California voters passed Assembly Bill 109, meant to divert people convicted of certain classes of less serious felonies from state prison to local county jails.

In 2014, Proposition 47 was passed and reduced a select number of nonviolent, non-serious crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.

In 2016, Proposition 57 was passed and allowed parole consideration for nonviolent felons, as well as allowed judges to decide whether to charge juveniles as adults, and authorized sentence credits for rehabilitation, good behavior and education.

“Despite these new challenges, we’ve been able to tackle crime through proactive efforts, crime suppression operations and all-around dedication of our Sheriff’s deputies,” said Captain Robert Lewis of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “We also heavily depend on the community to be our eyes and ears and report any suspicious behavior. This partnership has played a major role in our effectiveness.”

Related: ‘Crime Stoppers’ Helps Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Deputies Keep The Community Safe

Deputies have made an impact on crime through special operations, patrol tactics, traffic enforcement, specialized deployments, the apprehension of suspects, public education and awareness efforts.

“Your Santa Clarita City Council is committed to maintaining our reputation as one of the safest communities in the country,” said McLean. “This is also why we continue to invest in public safety programs and projects such as the new Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.”

As a part of a joint effort with Los Angeles County, the new 46,000-square-foot Sheriff’s Station is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

“I want to thank the dedicated men and women from the Sheriff’s Station on this monumental achievement,” said McLean. “I also want to say how appreciative I am of our engaged residents that report suspicious activity. We have to look out for one another and do our part to keep the community safe.”

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.