In the past year, law enforcement officials in Baltimore County have seen a decline in six of the eight crime categories that they consider the most serious. County Executive James T. Smith Jr. said Monday that there had been "impressive drops" in crimes such as motor vehicle theft and robbery, which were down last year by 16.5 percent and 14.7 percent, respectively, when compared to 2008. The drop in arson was even higher, 22.8 percent, while aggravated assault, burglary and theft showed smaller decreases. Homicides were up by 6.7 percent, from 30 to 32 cases, while rape was up 2.7 percent, from 148 to 152. "The Baltimore County Police Department is maintaining a clearance rate of 75 percent for violent crime and 78.1 percent for homicides," Smith said. Police Chief James W. Johnson was clearly pleased. "It's pretty amazing," he said. "The population keeps going up, and crime continues to go down."

- Nick Madigan