Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced that the city's violent crime rates have dropped nearly 13 percent during the first six months of 2013.  Statistics show that violent crime rates have fallen by about half since he was sworn into office.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has noted this is a vast accomplishment.  He believes this has been made possible due to the mayor's commitment to expand the Los Angeles Police Department.

Beck understands that commitment was not always easy to uphold, especially during the Great Recession.  He further points out that this is the first time that violent crime has dropped so significantly within an eight year period.

This decline becomes even more impressive when compared to what's been going on in other similarly-sized cities throughout the nation.  LAPD representatives feel their success is directly attributed to the mayor's ongoing support.

Villaraigosa first took office in 2004.  At that time the LAPD had about 9,300 sworn officers.  Approximately 700 new officers have been added between then and now.

Other efforts have reportedly included attempts to keep at-risk youth out of gangs, gun exchange programs, and the recruitment of known gang members to tip off the LAPD when rival gang tensions start heating up.

The mayor has also been given a nod for his efforts to reform schools in poverty-level neighborhoods.

The LAPD has said that since 2004, property crimes have fallen by 30%, gang crimes have fallen by 50%, overall violent crime has fallen between 40 and 45% and aggravated assaults have fallen by half.

Beck said that eight years ago, if someone would have told him this was possible, few would have believed it could actually happen.