Media Spotlight I

Jump in homicides a vexing challenge for LAPD brass (Local)
Killings, many of them random and unrelated, are up sharply in the city. 'One death is one too many, but we think it's a bit of an anomaly,' a police official says.

This article is especially important for those of us who live in the Los Angeles area. Homicides are on the rise according to this article it said, "It is not crooks killing crooks. It is crooks killing or shooting children, athletes and police officers, and that influences people's perception of events."

The increase in homicides is being analyzed, but no one has a solution to stem the violence. For now Chief Earl Paysinger has decided to put more cops on the streets in uniform to show the city they are there to protect them and help them feel safe.

Some of the most baffling data the article said, "the rising homicide rate is set against a 5.1% decline in violent crime overall that includes a more than 2% drop in rapes and aggravated assaults, as well as a 25% drop in gang-related homicides."
Paysinger said it some of the higher numbers are from homicides including multiple killings.

The article concludes some good news and said, "the numbers so far are a reversal for Los Angeles, which over the last five years has enjoyed significant drops in homicides and crime in general." The chief siad he remains optimistic that the numbers will level off in the coming months.