| July 3, 2004
MURDER SPIKE IN
VALLEY
The LAPD has come close to
achieving Chief William Bratton's goal of reducing serious crime by 20
percent in 2004 but homicides have risen slightly citywide and skyrocketed
by 48 percent in the San Fernando Valley, according to midyear figures.
Forty homicides were reported in the Valley between Jan. 1 and June
26, compared with 27 during the same period in 2003, the Los Angeles
Police Department reported. The Valley crime spree caused the overall
number of homicides to rise citywide from 247 last year to 256 this
year.STATS SHOW KILLINGS UP 48 PERCENT IN 2004 Jason Kandel Staff Writer |
| About half of the killings
are gang-related.
``It's frightening,'' said Los Angeles Councilman Dennis Zine, a
retired LAPD sergeant.
``The problem is, we've got these worthless gang thugs that
terrorize neighborhoods. We've got a very small gang unit. There's too
many thugs and not enough gang enforcement. They're outnumbered.''
Deputy Chief Ronald Bergmann, who heads the LAPD's Valley Bureau,
blamed the Valley's high numbers, in part, on two unrelated incidents
early in the year that left five people dead.
He added that Valley Bureau detectives and officers are working
hard to solve the cases and continue suppressing activity with weekly
crime stings and task forces, some of which are backed up with SWAT
officers and state and federal authorities.
It is all part of a plan to meet Bratton's goal of making Los
Angeles the safest major city in the nation by reducing homicides and
other serious crime by 20 percent. The chief has been keeping the pressure
on his top commanders at weekly meetings to review Compstat crime-tracking
figures.
``There is some pressure at each Compstat meeting,'' Bergmann said.
``We had a bad year. But by the same token I think that both the chief and
(Assistant) Chief (George) Gascon realize we've been trying every trick in
the book.''
While Valley homicides are up, violent crime - which includes
homicides, rape, robbery, assaults and abuse - dropped 15 percent in both
the Valley and the city.
Valley auto thefts saw a 19 percent drop, from 5,685 last year to
4,579 this year. Citywide, auto thefts dropped 10.8 percent, from 15,934
to 14,216.
Arrests citywide were up 8 percent, from 68,079 last year to 73,536
this year. Valley arrests were up 3 percent, from 19,000 last year to
19,535 this year.
Homicide arrests saw the biggest gains. Citywide, they jumped 32
percent, going from 192 last year to 254 this year. In the Valley,
homicide arrests jumped 67 percent, going from 42 last year to 70 this
year.
Although this year's homicide numbers are up sharply from 2003,
they are far lower than in 2002, when Los Angeles earned the dubious title
of murder capital of the country, with 315 killings citywide and 61 in the
Valley halfway through the year.
Two of the Valley's five LAPD divisions - Van Nuys and Foothill -
have each reported a dozen homicides during the first half of 2004. That
compares with five in Van Nuys and six in Foothill during the comparable
period last year.
Eight homicides were reported in the North Hollywood Division, up
one from last year, while the Devonshire Division saw a decline, from
eight in 2003 to five this year.
The West Valley Division has had three homicides, up from one last
year.
Van Nuys got off to a rough start in January when a gunman shot a
parolee and two women in a Van Nuys apartment during an apparent drug
deal. Police have no suspects.
``It's a time-consuming case,'' said Lt. Don Hartwell, who works in
the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, which handles the high-profile and
multiple-slaying cases across the city. ``Any case with narcotics is a
challenge. We're working several different angles.''
North Hollywood detectives continue to check out leads in Tuesday's
slaying of Naif Sahoum, a 41-year-old father of two fatally shot during an
early morning robbery at his Lankershim Boulevard minimarket.
``This was an innocent guy. There was absolutely not a reason on
Earth why he would be killed,'' said North Hollywood homicide Detective
Martin Pinner.
Anyone with information is asked to call North Hollywood
detectives, at (818) 623-4016. On weekends and during off-hours, call the
24-hour toll-free number at the Detective Information Desk, 877-LAWFULL
(877-529-3855).
|