
(April 3, 2021) The US saw significant crime rise across major cities - and it's not letting up
https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/03/us/us-cri...index.html
EXCERPT: Experts point to a "perfect storm" of factors -- economic collapse, social anxiety because of a pandemic, de-policing in major cities after protests that called for abolition of police departments, shifts in police resources from neighborhoods to downtown areas because of those protests, and the release of criminal defendants pretrial or before sentences were completed to reduce risk of Covid-19 spread in jails -- all may have contributed to the spike in homicides.
Covid-19 seemed to exacerbate everything -- officers sometimes had to quarantine because of exposure or cases in their ranks, reducing the number of officers available for patrol, investigations or protest coverage. It was difficult-to-impossible to keep physical distance during protests.
Through the first three months of 2021, a number of major cities have indicated they are still experiencing high rates of violent crime, according to Laura Cooper, executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. "Some cities are set to outpace last year's numbers," she said.
In Chicago, homicides are up 33% in the first three months of the year compared to 2020, while shootings are up nearly 40% for the same period year-over-year. In New York City, the NYPD data shows murders jumped by nearly 14% through March 28, the latest numbers the department has made public, while shootings were up nearly 50%.
In Los Angeles, homicides have increased nearly 36% from 67 to 91 through March 30, LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes told CNN. Those three cities -- the nation's largest -- all saw significant increases last year over 2019.
The homicide uptick in the three cities comes as Chicago, Houston, and Memphis saw some of the largest surges in homicides last year, with an increase of 100 or more killings compared to 2019.... (MORE - details)
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(April 13, 2021) Oakland Has Suffered 41 Homicides in the First 100 Days of 2021, a 215% Increase, the City Council Response: Proposals to Further Defund the Police.
https://www.opoa.org/oakland-has-suffere...the-police
EXCERPT: “No sooner had President Biden’s American Rescue Bill restored previous Oakland Police budget cuts, the Council begins debating defunding the police again. The police department’s staffing [711 sworn] is at the lowest its been in five years, and violent crime is surging. Rather than acknowledging the bloodshed on our streets, this Council seeks to defund the police despite a staggering increase in violent crime. This is insane,” said Oakland Police Officers' Association President Barry Donelan.
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(April 12, 2021) Surge of homicides could cast 'defund the police' debate in new light
https://wset.com/news/nation-world/surge...-new-light
EXCERPT: Amid continued concerns about policing tactics and violent crime, tensions are rising in some communities over efforts to slash police spending, the potential dangers of defunding law enforcement, and the appetite of the public and politicians for public safety reform. After Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced last week he would establish a task force to develop a five-year budget reduction plan for the city’s police department, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan lashed out, calling the move “crazy” and “reckless.”
https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/03/us/us-cri...index.html
EXCERPT: Experts point to a "perfect storm" of factors -- economic collapse, social anxiety because of a pandemic, de-policing in major cities after protests that called for abolition of police departments, shifts in police resources from neighborhoods to downtown areas because of those protests, and the release of criminal defendants pretrial or before sentences were completed to reduce risk of Covid-19 spread in jails -- all may have contributed to the spike in homicides.
Covid-19 seemed to exacerbate everything -- officers sometimes had to quarantine because of exposure or cases in their ranks, reducing the number of officers available for patrol, investigations or protest coverage. It was difficult-to-impossible to keep physical distance during protests.
Through the first three months of 2021, a number of major cities have indicated they are still experiencing high rates of violent crime, according to Laura Cooper, executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. "Some cities are set to outpace last year's numbers," she said.
In Chicago, homicides are up 33% in the first three months of the year compared to 2020, while shootings are up nearly 40% for the same period year-over-year. In New York City, the NYPD data shows murders jumped by nearly 14% through March 28, the latest numbers the department has made public, while shootings were up nearly 50%.
In Los Angeles, homicides have increased nearly 36% from 67 to 91 through March 30, LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes told CNN. Those three cities -- the nation's largest -- all saw significant increases last year over 2019.
The homicide uptick in the three cities comes as Chicago, Houston, and Memphis saw some of the largest surges in homicides last year, with an increase of 100 or more killings compared to 2019.... (MORE - details)
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(April 13, 2021) Oakland Has Suffered 41 Homicides in the First 100 Days of 2021, a 215% Increase, the City Council Response: Proposals to Further Defund the Police.
https://www.opoa.org/oakland-has-suffere...the-police
EXCERPT: “No sooner had President Biden’s American Rescue Bill restored previous Oakland Police budget cuts, the Council begins debating defunding the police again. The police department’s staffing [711 sworn] is at the lowest its been in five years, and violent crime is surging. Rather than acknowledging the bloodshed on our streets, this Council seeks to defund the police despite a staggering increase in violent crime. This is insane,” said Oakland Police Officers' Association President Barry Donelan.
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(April 12, 2021) Surge of homicides could cast 'defund the police' debate in new light
https://wset.com/news/nation-world/surge...-new-light
EXCERPT: Amid continued concerns about policing tactics and violent crime, tensions are rising in some communities over efforts to slash police spending, the potential dangers of defunding law enforcement, and the appetite of the public and politicians for public safety reform. After Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced last week he would establish a task force to develop a five-year budget reduction plan for the city’s police department, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan lashed out, calling the move “crazy” and “reckless.”