Sylvania among Ohio safest cities
The city of Sylvania has been recognized as the second safest city in Ohio by the National Council for Home Safety and Security. The only Ohio city ranked ahead of Sylvania was Brecksville. Following Sylvania were Solon, Seven Hills, North Ridgeville, New Albany, Avon Lake, Brunswick, Wickliffe and Springboro.
To identify the safest cities in Ohio, the study reviewed the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics, which were for 2017. The study reviewed and ranked cities not just for Ohio, but for all fifty states. In all, a total of 7,639 cities around the U.S. were studied, with populations varying from 7,639 to 4,007,147.

The study used two broad classifications of crimes: violent crime and non-violent crime. Violent crime involves force or the threat of force including murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Non-violent crime includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson, all without force or threat of force against the victims.
Ohio crime statistics are significantly below overall U.S. averages. Ohio’s violent crime rate is roughly half the national average and is the 8th safest state in the U.S. Ohio is the 16th safest state for property crime.
We are fortunate to live in Sylvania where crime rates are low. The violent crime rate is 0.317 per 1,000 residents. The property crime rate is 4.548 per 1,000 residents.
I encourage you to visit the study website to review the study methodology and results for yourself. The address is https://www.alarms.org/safest-cities-in-ohio/
The low crime rates in Sylvania are attributable to several factors, including several social and economic factors. Also to be considered is the quality of our Sylvania Police Division, the services and programs it offers, and the professionalism of the police officers themselves.
Sylvania has benefitted from the excellent leadership of our two most recent police chiefs. Chief Gerald Sobb served as Chief beginning under Mayor James E. Seney. Upon his retirement, I appointed Chief William Rhodus nine years ago, who is retiring this year at the end of March.
I have appointed, and Sylvania City Council has confirmed, Frederick Schnoor as Sylvania’s next Chief of Police effective March 29, 2019. Mr. Schnoor is a longtime member of the Sylvania Police Division, serving as a patrolman, sergeant and captain. He will bring the best programs and leadership of previous Chiefs Sobb and Rhodus, together with his own ideas for a better, more modern and more responsive Sylvania Police Division.