Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine says the violent crime statistics for the city are heading in the right direction. On Tuesday, he showed NBC 15 News some of the numbers ahead of the release of the annual report. Prine says the robbery rate for 2022 is down 28% from 2021, and the burglary rate and homicide rate both dropped by 20%. There were 10 fewer homicides in 2022 than 2021.

"That's 10 families that didn't have to grieve the loss of life," said Prine. "That's 10 young men or women that are not going to end up spending their life in prison for committing that type of crime. And that's 10 families that's not grieving their child being locked up for prison for doing that."

Prine says sexual assaults are down 11% and the rate of people being shot in an assault is down 13%.

"We are literally double digits down virtually in every category. When you look at the crime, and that is that is phenomenal," said Prine.

Prine credits several things including increased community engagement. He says they've seen a 21% increase is people calling 911 who hear shots fired. Prine says following the department's strategic plan is paying off, and he credits Operation Echo Stop, which included the rollout of new technology like the gunshot detection system ShotSpotter last year. But, he says, there is also a higher power that's at work addressing violent crime in the city.

"God, because there's a lot of people praying for my administration, and I'll certainly pray for God's wisdom and strength, and that cannot be understated. This is a heavy lift," said Prine.

Prine says the annual crime report will be released in March.