A new report shows crime is down in Perry this year and Perry police are solving more crimes than ever.

Residents in Perry never like seeing flashing police lights and crime scene tape; and the scene hasn't been that common for the first half of this year.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement's semi-annual crime report says crime in the City of Perry has dropped 9.9 percent.

Perry resident Pamela Archer said, "It's awfully nice to know that you can go to your bank, you can go to your teller machine and not look behind you every two seconds."

Between January and June, the report shows that there were seven reported rapes, 75 aggravated assaults, 43 burglaries, and six car thefts.

Some residents say they're a little shocked to hear that officers say crime is down from last year.

Breasha Dixon said, "I don't believe it. Something happens every day; people getting shot and dying for no reason, just over drama."

There was only one murder in Perry between January 1st and June 30th.

On Memorial Day--May 25th--19 year old Henry Hughes was shot and killed at Daddy's Place off Highways 98 and 19.

Issac Jackson and Rufus Lee were arrested a week later.

In fact, the Perry Police Department's case clearance rate is up 52.8 percent.

That's more than twice the state's rate of 25.6 percent.

Last year, the city's rate was only 35.6 percent.

Captain James Cruse says they've improved because the department has changed how it tracks investigation follow-ups and it's added more accountability to each individual officer.

Perry resident Sarah Blue Jackson said, "I'm pleased with that. They are doing their job and getting it done and making Taylor County a safer place to live."

Officers say community involvement also plays a huge role.

The chief says the rate of cases already solved so far this year is the best the department has ever done.

There was another murder in Perry this year but that shooting happened in August, which is after the timeline for the semi-annual report.

In that case, 30 year old Nathaniel Britt was killed at the 98 Bar on Highway 98.

Police say violent crimes are more emotional for the community and that may be why many residents feel like crime has gone up instead of down.

To view the entire report for the City of Perry, Taylor County and all Florida crime statistics, go to http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/FSAC/UCR/UCR-Home.aspx.