Crime down overall in Los Angeles so far in 2012

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Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck in November, 2009.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are expected to have big news Wednesday regarding L.A.'s crime drop, but here's a little preview. At Tuesday's Police Commission meeting, Beck dropped some stats comparing this year with last year at this time:

• Part I crime — meaning homicide, rape, burglary, and pretty much any kind of crime you've heard of — is down 2.5 percent;
• Gang-related crimes are down 10 percent;
• Shootings are down 15 percent;
• Assaults on police officers are down 14 percent;
• Officer-involved shootings are down 25 percent;
• Gang homicides down 10 percent.

Hard to say why gang crime, particularly, seems to be dropping. LAPD Commander Andy Smith cited the city's gang intervention efforts as a factor, but said it's hard to know the "why" behind the ebb and flow of crime.