Mar 21, 2008 11:06 am US/Eastern
Murder Rate Down In Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (AP) ―
It's
still early in the year, but murders in Philadelphia
are down about 25 percent.
As of Friday morning, 61 murders have occurred in the city, compared
to 83 at this time last year.
The city's new police commissioner, Charles Ramsey, calls
the figures "encouraging" but says it's too early to tell what is behind the
decrease.
Ramsey has added some officers to patrol, and police efforts
have been focused on the most violent districts. He also says more changes are
coming.
Each captain has submitted a crime plan for the summer on
what is anticipated. He says officials are devising strategies to try to neutralize
problems.
Ramsey says an analysis is being made of murders last year
to see if that information can help police intervene or prevent murders in the
future.
Information from: Tony Hanson/KYW-AM,
http://www.kyw1060.com
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)