Mayor Nutter with police officials announces progress in goal to reduce homicides

By Elizabeth Fiedler, WHYY News

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Despite a difficult year, Philadelphia police have delivered on Mayor Michael Nutter’s promise to cut homicides.  Although the year also had a force mourning the deaths of four officers, the Police Department managed to cut violent crime by 3% and homicides by 15%.  In 9 targeted districts homicides fell more than 27%.

Mayor Michael Nutter said all the numbers boil down to one basic fact: more Philadelphians are alive right now, because of the work done by the Philadelphia Police.

In the Mayor’s January Inaugural address he vowed to lower the city’s homicide rate by 30 to 50% over the next 3 to 5 years.  Today to a room filled with police officers, press and some community members, the Mayor called the 2008 numbers a down payment on his pledge.

Nutter: “This is the sharpest decline in homicides in a decade here in the city of Philadelphia.  Let me say that again: the sharpest decline in homicides in Philadelphia on a percent basis in the last 10 years took place in 2008.”

Mayor Nutter said strategies from the city’s crime plan are helping.  There are more officers are on the streets, and they’re focusing on the city’s most violent areas using proven law enforcement methods including the controversial “Stop, question, and frisk” tactic.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said he hopes a greater police presence on the streets, makes people think twice about carrying an illegal weapon.

Ramsey: “If you never stop ‘em and they never see the police why wouldn’t they carry a gun?  I want them looking over their shoulder every time they step foot on concrete if they’re one of these bad guys.  If they don’t carry the gun, then they can’t shoot anybody and it lowers our numbers.”

Ramsey said next year he’ll try to continue to reduce violent crime, as well as focusing on cutting property crime which rose 1.3% citywide in 2008.