It is no secret that some of the most dangerous areas for policing are large cities with impoverished neighborhoods. The reasons for high crime rates are many, but for the police officers who patrol the streets, their job is to protect and serve the community regardless of the reasons crimes occur.

U.S. Cities with the Worst Crime Rate

So which cities in the United States have the worst crime rates and are the most dangerous for the police officers who protect them? Here are the top 5 U.S. cities with the worst crime rates.

Kansas City

Kansas City ranks as the fifth most dangerous city in the United States. Kansas City has a poverty rate of 18.3% and where poverty is high, so is crime. In 2017, 150 homicides were reported while the violent crime rate was 1,724 per 100,000.

Memphis

Memphis has a poverty rate of over 27% which helps explain why it is the fourth most dangerous city in the United States. 181 homicides were committed in Memphis in 2017, while the crime rate per 100,000 residents was 2,003.

Baltimore

Year after year, Baltimore is notorious for being one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. In 2017, a staggering 342 homicides were committed in Baltimore, making it the third most dangerous city in the country. The violent crime rate remains one of the highest for U.S. major cities at 2,027 per 100,000.

Detroit

Since the Great Recession, Detroit has seen an increase in poverty and thus an increase in violent crime. The poverty rate in Detroit is nearly 40%, which directly impacts its high violent crime rate. In 2017, 267 homicides were committed in Detroit adding to its very high 2,057 per 100,000 violent crime rate.

St. Louis

St. Louis takes the top spot as being the most dangerous city in the United States, with a violent crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000. In 2017, 205 homicides were reported in St. Louis. That, paired with its high violent crime rate, makes St. Louis the most dangerous city in the United States.