When discussing El Paso, people often say, "Isn't it a safe city because of Fort Bliss and the many military and federal employees?"

In my view, it's difficult to explain that a city is safe just because it has a large number of military personnel and federal employees.

El Paso has the large military base Fort Bliss, and being a border city, the presence of federal agencies like Customs and Border Protection is significant.

However, the safety of a city is influenced by various factors, including demographics, economic conditions, police presence, community, drug-related issues, and vehicle crimes.

Looking at the actual crime numbers, El Paso is a bit complex.

In terms of homicides, local reports citing El Paso police data for 2024 indicate 31 cases, an increase from 23 in 2023.

This period coincides with a time when homicides were decreasing across the United States, which is concerning.

However, it's not accurate to label El Paso as a dangerous city based solely on the number 31.

We must consider that it is a large city with a population exceeding 600,000. In South Korea, a city of 600,000 would typically see about 9-10 homicides a year.

Nonetheless, El Paso has long been regarded as a city with relatively low violent crime compared to similar-sized cities in the U.S.

The image of being adjacent to Ciudad Juárez in Mexico leads many to think it is dangerous, but the crime situation in El Paso is quite different.

Instead, the reality that residents need to be mindful of is property crime.

Particularly, vehicle-related crimes require caution. It's not just about cars being stolen; there are also crimes where items left in vehicles are taken, so it's not a good habit to leave bags or laptops in plain sight, thinking, "It's just for a moment."

Additionally, when looking at crime statistics, there is something to always be cautious about. The statements "overall crime has decreased" and "specific crimes have increased" can both be true at the same time.

For example, even if overall reported crime decreases, specific crimes like homicide or vehicle theft can still rise. Conversely, an increase in homicides in one year does not necessarily mean that the overall safety of the city has suddenly collapsed. Especially for crimes like homicide, which have a small absolute number, a few cases can significantly affect the year-over-year increase rate.

So, does having many military and federal agencies mean nothing?

Not at all.

The military and border-related agencies have a significant impact on El Paso's economy and demographics, creating a substantial amount of stable employment.

However, just because many military personnel live there does not mean that the military is responsible for general public safety in the city.

The roles of general crime prevention and investigation fall to the El Paso Police Department and local judicial agencies.

Ultimately, the most accurate description of El Paso's safety is this:

It is not as dangerous a city as one might think due to its image as a border city. However, it is also not a crime-free city where one can live without any worries.