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Homicides rise in first quarter; violent crime down
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Related Topics: Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County (Map, News) - Prince George’s County saw a 56 percent increase in homicides during first quarter 2007 compared with last year, but overall violent crime fell 20 percent, according to statistics released Tuesday.
“The … homicide spike is cause for concern among this generally good news,” Police Chief Melvin High said at a press conference.
Through March, county police handled 39 homicides, 14 more than during the same period of 2006, and comparable to 40 in 2005.
“Most of those murders, with few exceptions, these have been cases of drug activity,” High said.
As of Tuesday, police said they handled 50 homicides, an increase of 16 from the same time last year, but couldn’t say how many they’ve closed.
In the first quarter, police said they seized $9,949,454 in narcotics, up from $5,500,304 last year. Police spokeswoman Sharon Taylor said the police don’t record specific drug arrests. To address the homicide situation, High said he has reached out to federal, state and local partners.
“Crime is addressed as a system problem,” he said.
Specifically, High highlighted a recommitment to a cross-border initiative with the Metropolitan Police Department. Earlier this month, High met with D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier and other police officials to discuss cross-border crime fighting. “We’ve increased our numbers,” High said. “They’ve increased their numbers.”
High told The Examiner, “I think what we’ve seen is an increase in drug activity and that drug activity is certainly flowing between [Washington] and Prince George’s County.”
That, he said, coupled with Prince George’s own drug problems, is causing the homicide spike.
High said Prince George’s has several “federal efforts” relating to drugs and his uniform officers are targeting loitering to curtail drug sales.
dfowler@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
9:48 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 21, 2007 re: "Sheriff: Report fails to show entire picture"
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Examiner Reader said:
Read through the lines. All this article is about is a Sheriff trying to discredit good things that are happening in a county. The UCR is the most accurate means of analying serious crime for mostpolice departments in the U.S..... They are just trying to expand their department by discrediting other's good work and this is the only way they know how to do it! The people in Carroll County think that they pay alot for the MSP, wait until they get a county police force - then they will really pay no matter what this guy says - just look at the property taxes and expenses in other counties.
136 agree | 121 disagree
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Concerned Resident said:
It sounds as if the State Police have adjusted the crime stats to save their outdated resident trooper program ! Doesnt crime go up when they want more money for troopers in Carroll County ?
148 agree | 131 disagree
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Annapolis Defense Attorney said:
Yeah don't and don't forget about all of those bong cases that go unreported each year! Thank God we pay taxes to the police to stop those horrible criminals.
170 agree | 127 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
500 or 1,000 more poilce officers will not help. The base problem is lack of respect, which starts in the home. Once the population realizes that the police and teachers can not be the parents to your kids, this whole sad situation may turn around.
164 agree | 153 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Could it be Management? Has anyone asked that question? Now that we have looked at numbers let's look at the quality of the leadership. At this point it is not about how many police, it is about what they are doing. Where is the strategic plan? That is why Mitchell's plan of the three Mayoral contenders is so weak. These folks can't get think outside of the box, and the entire city is suffering.
169 agree | 154 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Clearly, based on the above article, it is not that we have too few police. Other cities have close to the same number in proportion to their population but less crime and homicide. This tells me that the policedepartment is malfunctioning. Before we get more officers we need to put the ones we have to good use.
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Examiner Reader said:
Kareem Timmons was an ex-boyfriend of mine about 10 years ago. I miss him and loved him dearly. He was a very kind hearted person.
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