Florida crime rate at lowest mark since 1971

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey said Tuesday the crime rate dropped by 6.6 percent in 2010 from the 2009 figures which reflected 54,000 fewer crimes. There were 987 murders last year, which was 26 fewer than in 2009 and nearly 5,000 fewer robberies, a decrease of 15.6 percent.

However, the improved safety numbers come with a price. Six police officers have already been killed while doing their job in the first four months of 2011.