That is according to a report by the Altoona Mirror that says Altoona Police Chief Joe Merrill reported that crime in the Mt. City has not risen like it has in many other parts of the country. Chief Merrill says that the number of serious crimes in the city fell some 12% since 2020, and less serious crimes rose 3%. Overall, crime in Altoona has dropped by 1%. Chief Merrill praised the citizens of Altoona for their continued support of his department in the face of rising hatred for police officers in other parts of the country. He said that good community relations have contributed to the low crime numbers.
