Hate crimes down in Yuma

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KSWT, FOX 9) -Hate crimes are down in the City of Yuma.

In 2018, there were a total of 166 reported in Arizona and seven of those crimes happened in Yuma, according to FBI data released in Fall 2019.

That is half as many as were reported in Yuma in 2017, according to the Yuma Police Department (YPD).

YPD said that most hate crimes in Yuma are gang on gang hate crimes.

The Yuma Police Department explained why the city is doing well keeping the numbers down especially in an area where tensions run high on border issues.

“Being close to the border. Having some issues that we have with immigrants coming across the border. We’re actually doing pretty good because we don’t have a lot of hate crime being reported to us reference any of that,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin.

FBI data showed in 2018 most of the reports coming out of Yuma were based on race- ethnicity or ancestry.