DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) - Just five years ago, Davenport’s violent crime rate was almost double the national average.

FBI data showed a crime rate worse than Chicago.

“‘19, ‘20, were probably the most violent years that we’ve had within our city,” said Chief Jeff Bladel. “We, as a police department, experienced gun-violence levels we’ve never experienced before. The amount of shooting victims, the amount of bullets fired in our community. Just horrific and highly dangerous.”

But thanks to a shift in police strategies, the department says overall crime is down 9%.

It’s been made possible through community support from groups aimed at getting young people the help they need – before they turn to crime.

The chief says a new unit of data analysts within the department is identifying trends

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