As 2010 drew to a close, Metro Police and local media had their eyes on D.C.’s total number of homicides in the year and, as 2011 dawned, announced and celebrated a nine percent decline in the number over last year.
Said Metro Police Chief Cathy Lanier in a press release,
“I am thankful for the dedication and hard work of the men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department, and the commitment from our partners in the community and other government agencies, that are helping us to make the city safer. I especially want to commend the members of the Homicide Branch for their efforts and the intelligence and patrol units for their increased work.”
The nine percent decline — from 143 deaths to 131 — constitues D.C.’s lowest homicide count since 1963 but does not meet Lanier’s goal of reducing the number to under 100.
“I know it’s doable,” Lanier told the Washington Times. “We’re bringing the numbers down — just not fast enough for me. I want it to happen while I’m here.”
For the names and faces behind these numbers, See Homicide Watch D.C.’s gallery and read our post, “We Remember.”
District, Prince George’s report continuing decline in number of homicides
Washington Post | Dec 31, 2010
Although Washington reached its lowest homicide count in more than four decades last year, D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier did not meet her goal of fewer than 100 homicides. D.C. still has a higher homicide rate than many areas, with about 22 slayings for every 100,000 residents, compared with about 11.5 in Prince George’s and about 6 in New York City. In Montgomery and Fairfax, the rate is less than 2.
Homicides fall in large American cities
USA TODAY | Dec 31, 2010
When Washington debates whether America is safe, the focus now is usually on the increasing threat of terrorism not violent crime. That has largely obscured some good news about violent crime: Across the nation, homicide rates have dropped to their lowest levels in nearly a generation. And overall violent crime has sunk to its lowest level since 1973, Justice Department statistics show
DC sees further drop in homicides in 2010
Washington Examiner | Jan 1, 2011
Years after being dubbed the nation’s murder capital, Washington D.C. is seeing its lowest homicide count since the early 1960s. D.C. Police say there were 131 homicides in the city in 2010, a 9 percent drop from 144 in 2009. Chief Cathy Lanier attributes the continuing drop to more community involvement, aggressive pursuit of gun crimes and better technology. These totals are a third of those recorded in the early 1990s, when homicides peaked at 479 in 1991.
D.C. homicides fall 9% in 2010 to 131, lowest toll since ‘63
Washington Times | Jan 2, 2011
The District finished 2010 with 131 homicides — a 9 percent reduction from 2009 and the lowest number of killings in the nation’s capital since 1963. The drop, from 143 killings, was the second straight decline and the seventh time in the last 10 years that the city once referred to as the “murder capital” of the U.S. recorded fewer than 200 homicides.
D.C. homicides hit low in 2010, but five shot Sunday
WTOP | Jan 2, 2011
Homicides in the nation’s capital hit a 46-year low in 2010, but the second day of the new year saw its share of violence. D.C. police report that 131 people were slain in Washington in 2010. That’s a 9 percent decrease from the 2009 total and the lowest since 1964. Police also say they closed 79 percent of homicide cases, which is well above the national average and an increase over 2009.
Homicides drop in D.C. to nearly 50-year low
Washington Examiner | Dec 30, 2010
As of Thursday, 131 homicides had been reported in the District, the fewest since 1963, when the city recorded 95 killings. Last year, 143 were slain.
January 2, 2011
MPD Announces Reduction in Homicides that
Equate to a 46 Year Low
( Washington, DC) — The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced a reduction in homicides that was a 46 year low. For the second year in a row, the city recorded the fewest number of homicides since the 1960s. For the year 2010, the District finished the year with 131 homicides, a 9 percent decrease from last year.
MPD also finished the year with a homicide closure rate of 79 percent, which is well above the national average and an increase over the year before.
“I am thankful for the dedication and hard work of the men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department, and the commitment from our partners in the community and other government agencies, that are helping us to make the city safer,” said Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of Police. “I especially want to commend the members of the Homicide Branch for their efforts and the intelligence and patrol units for their increased work.”
Many initiatives have contributed to the reduction in homicides and other crimes. MPD continues to reduce violent gun crime by focusing on violent offenders, taking illegal guns off the street, and launching innovative programs such as the Gun Offender Registry and the Firearm Tip Reward Program. In 2010, robberies committed with guns decreased 20 percent and assaults committed with guns were down 10 percent. Since 2007, the Department has taken 10,000 illegal guns off the streets.
The Department has worked to build stronger relationships with community members, with both a physical and virtual presence. The Department has adopted an aggressive deployment of officers on footbeats, bicycles, and Segways. In four years, MPD has gone from just a handful of officers assigned to regular foot patrol, to more than 300 deployed on foot patrol on all three shifts in neighborhoods across the city. Forty Segways are assigned to the police districts, and an additional 20 Segways are used to patrol around schools. In addition, almost 100 officers patrol on mountain bikes every day.
MPD has reinvigorated community email groups to enhance communication with city residents, and to provide a 24-hour a day virtual police presence. Police districts post crime stats and prevention tips daily. Community members communicate with police leaders in the districts and each other about important information to keep their neighborhoods safe. Questions or concerns posted to these are usually answered immediately, often by top command members. The police email group community has grown by 38 percent over the past two years.
Although it is difficult to quantify stronger relations, there is strong evidence to show that community members are not only communicating with the police – they are sharing vital information to solve crimes and make our neighborhoods safer. The Department’s phone tip line and anonymous text message have seen significant growth in usage. In two years, the number of tips received has increased.
And many of these tips are valuable: monetary rewards for tips leading to an arrest and indictment have more than doubled.
The Metropolitan Police Department uses numerous strategies to accomplish its goals and the work is often dangerous. In December, nine people were indicted on federal charges of conspiring to sell large quantities of crystal methamphetamine in the Washington area. The defendants allegedly have ties to “La Familia,” a Mexican drug cartel. The street value of the seized drugs included more than $3.5 million worth of methamphetamine, $118,000 of cocaine, and $49,500 of marijuana.
“I applaud the officers from the Narcotics and Special Investigations Division for their selfless and heroic actions in preventing a drug market from gaining a foot hold here,” said Chief Lanier. “We appreciate the assistance of our Federal partners in this case.”
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.
In addition to a consecutive year of low homicide numbers, the city also experienced a decline in traffic fatalities for the second year in a row. In 2009, the number of traffic fatalities was 33 – the lowest in 25 years. In 2010, there were 25 traffic related deaths.
“We are pleased with the positive results and I am excited about the opportunity to continue to serve the people of this great city,” said Chief Lanier.