San Francisco Police Report Significant Drop In Murder Rate So Far For 2014
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— San Francisco police reported a significantly lower murder rate for the first third of this year compared to the same period in previous years.
Police Chief Greg Suhr pointed to a number of contributing factors for the drop and said this could very well represent an all-time low in the city's history.
"In 2008 on May 1st we had had 36 homicides and this year's total, we have had four," he said.
Suhr said it's a testament to everything everyone in his department has been doing.
San Francisco Police Report Significant Drop In Murder Rate So Far For 2014
"Certainly the officers are doing a great job, we're focusing on guns. Shootings are half of what they were back in 2008.
He also credits SF General Hospital for saving lives as well as the school district and mayor's office.
"This is just a clear example of when we focus on education and jobs for young people and they're not going to fall prey to all those numbers like; 9 out of 10 homicide victims under 25 are dropouts," Suhr said.
Homicide rates in Oakland and San Jose are on par with the first four months of last year.
