Staten Island ranks among the safest communities in U.S., new report shows [Video]

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Low fatality rates and investments in health and public safety services have made Staten Island one of the safest communities in the country, according to a new report.

Earlier this month, U.S. News & World Report released its sixth annual Healthiest Communities report, with Staten Island placing 17th out of more than 3,000 counties across the United States in the public safety category.

The study analyzed seven key public safety metrics across three areas — crime, injuries and public safety capacity — to determine the safest places to live in the country.

Individual metrics included property crime rate, violent crime rate, accidental death rate, vehicle crash fatality rate, the share of the population in proximity to emergency facilities, spending on health and emergency services and percentage of public safety professionals in the population.

Staten Island was one of eight New York counties that placed within the top 25 …