(Michigan City, IN) - Crime has gone down in Michigan City.

That’s according to La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan, who cited statistics from the Michigan City Police Department at this week’s La Porte County Council meeting.

Fagan said there was a 17.5 percent drop crime last year and a seven percent reduction in criminal offenses the previous year.

He said more community policing where officers maintain a greater presence on the streets and interact with citizens was a contributing factor along with the excellent work of the La Porte County Drug Task Force.

Fagan said the success rate of the task force in arresting suspected narcotics dealers has been recognized at the federal drug enforcement level.

The drop in crime happened after Michigan City restored the number of officers at its department by raising salaries and implementing new programs and strategies to combat a rise in crime in previous years.

“Things are on an upward trajectory in our most populous city,” he said.