GILBERT, AZ (AZFamily) — A former Gilbert town councilman delivered bombshell allegations, saying that for more than a decade, police intentionally falsified crime stats and town leaders knowingly misled the public to save face.

For years, Gilbert ranked as one of America’s safest cities based on the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. But some residents now ask whether that reputation was built on misleading data.

People in Gilbert say that 10 years ago, town leaders intentionally changed the way emergency calls were reported to make it seem like there was less crime on the streets. While that method is no longer in use, critics argue the damage has already been done.

Spense: ‘Fudged numbers’ and a new call priority

Former councilman Bill Spense spoke last month during public comm

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