KCPD statement on 2008 homicides

From KCPD: While the number of other violent and property crimes in Kansas City spiraled downward this year, homicides spiked in 2008. Barring any more violence before the New Year tonight, 2008 had 126 homicides – just under the deadliest year this decade: 2005 and its 127 murders. The year 2007 had 94 homicides. Here’s the breakdown on this year’s slayings:

126 total victims
-         111 males, 15 females
-         95 black, 17 white, 13 Hispanic, 1 Asian
-         60 percent were between the ages of 17 and 34

One hundred (100) of the murders were committed with a firearm. Another 11 victims died from trauma, eight were stabbed, three causes of death are unknown and one was classified as “other.”

East Patrol had more than twice as many homicides as any other patrol division in the city with 61 killings. Metro Patrol had 30, Central Patrol 25, South Patrol 7, Shoal Creek Patrol 2 and North Patrol 1.

Detectives have cleared 70 of this year’s homicides, and another nine are being reviewed by prosecutors. Police also cleared 14 homicide cases from previous years in 2008.

Comments

[Twinky]

Apparently the safest people in KCMO are Asian.

[Drew]

Nice job reppin' a good nationwide sample of scumbags, KCMO.

The last two paragraphs are quite notable. Good job to KCPD for that clearance rate. 84 clears and 9 cases pending charges are pretty darned good, given the uncooperative populace and relative difficulty of most 'whodunnit'-type thug-on-thug murders.

The fact that the East patrol had the overwhelming majority of the killings is not at all surprising.

Ahh, what a year upon which we can warmly reflect and smile.

[redwalnut]

You took the words right out of my mouth, Drew! My thanks and appreciation to the KCPD for working hard to bring closure to the families of these victims and get these thugs off the streets. Your perseverance is a testament to the professionalism I have come to expect in all my dealings with KCPD and the surrounding departments.

May the New Year bring all of my men and women in blue peace and safety!

[Searching]

With all the new Hispanic gangs in town.. I am a bit surprised at the low rate on that group..

75% black...its time to speak up..don't be scared

[Paul M.]

Dey puttin somethin in da church's chikin dat make da brothas be killin one anotha

[Ksgal]

The low numbers in Hispanic killings are because most of them are in KC,KS.

[John]

Drug users killing drug users good riddance and who cares. As long as they kill each other fine with me.

[John]

Drug users killing drug users good riddance and who cares. As long as they kill each other fine with me.

[Unbelievable]

Humm am I missing something..

"Detectives have cleared 70 of this year’s homicides, and another nine are being reviewed by prosecutors"

70+9 .. 79 out of 126 ... does this mean that theres 47 unsolved cases floating around? Does that mean 47 people were murdered and their killers are still out there? I'm probably missing something there, surely these are more important than setting up sobriety check points?

[Drew]

Unbelievable, you are missing something.
Homicide investigators work on homicides. Traffic cops and patrolmen work sobriety checkpoints and conduct other non-homicide-investigation-related police business.
Figure out what's going on before you try to sound edgy and stir things up like Rosie.

And presumably your mathematics lessons served you well. But there are just some homicides that can't be solved, given many of the constitutional handcuffs placed on police, relatively low resources, and as I mentioned above, low probability that citizens will be forthcoming or helpful to a police investigation.

Do a ride-along and then bitch. Surely.

[Jonathan]

The statistic that most surprises me is that the 17 - 34 demographic only accounted for 60% of the murder victims. I would have expected that to be closed to 75% or so. I am guessing the 34 - 40 demographic came in 2nd? Maybe the gangbangers are just aging a little....

[Searching]

given many of the constitutional handcuffs placed on police- drew

You act like you don't like the constitution..

[ganj man]

if everyone smoked pot and they legalized it no one would be killing anyone they would all be to high to kill each other the only thing they would be killing is the buffet

[withheld]

i think kc homicide Detectives need to do a lil better job than what they are doing ,,, my daughters father was shot in the head june 2008 at a convienace store where there are cameras EVERYWHERE and yet they still havent done shit with his case .