Murder rate lowest since 1977

BALTIMORE - The city of Baltimore came in under 200 homicides for the first time since 1978.

    

That is the last time Baltimore city even had a chance at reporting less than 200 murders.

 

2011's homicide rate set a more than 30 year old record at 196.

 

Numbers cannot truly quantify murder; there is pain, anguish and heartbreaking loss but this year there is a lot less of it and police say, that is worth talking about.

 

"They can gauge their success, so I am optimistic about that, that people are finally paying attention.  In the same way that people were paying attention when the number was high."

 

The way Commissioner Fred Bealefeld sees it, his department and its programs prevented nearly thirty murders as compared to last year by continuing a strict focus on illegal guns.

      

Tracing the firearms, gun offenders and targeting the violent gun criminals is working to pull the violence out of the community at the root.

       

A deliberate policing he sees playing out on a quiet night patrolling the city and in the stats.

        

Proof he believes that his bad guys with guns focus is working.

 

"The fact that we are making a difference is an enormous amount of pride for us but are we satisfied with that?  If I say yes, the mayor should yank me out of this door.  We can't be satisfied.  I can't be satisfied we had one murder last year.  We have a long way to go."

 

And the commissioner says he has a plan to get there. 

 

In 2012 Bealefeld says to look for even more concentrated efforts on illegal guns and continued efforts to seize them, almost 2200 were picked up in Baltimore in 2011, but he also hoping to choke off the supply.

 

"That is what you will start seeing in 2012, us taking this cutting off the supply, the pipeline of violence,  the fuel to our violence, cutting that off systematically piece by piece," said Bealefeld.

 

Because while the ATF reports thousands of illegal guns in Maryland are purchased in Maryland, hundreds are funneled in from states around the country.

A source the commissioner is looking to cut off by working with other law enforcement agencies.

 

In the meantime he is doubling down on what he believes is working, knowing full well there is much more progress to be made.

 

"It's not game perfect, it's not game over.  We're continuing the effort and have a really solid proven track record of getting it done."

 

This year recorded in one of the lowest homicide rates in nearly a generation.

 

Bealefeld also wants to see more participation from citizens in things like COP Walks and community associations.

    

The commissioner says in addition to his three thousand cops, healthy partnerships with the feds, state and local authorities have made it easier to fight crime and go after illegal guns.