With 94 homicides recorded as of this past Monday, San Francisco’s homicide rate is soaring and disproportionately impacting the African-American community. More disturbingly, nearly 80% of those homicide cases are still open, a statistic that has fueled criticism of the SFPD from community leaders and San Francisco supervisors. The SFPD claims that the low prosecution rate for homicides is due to a lack of cooperation from witnesses to the killings, who fear retribution for coming forward. Suggestions from the board of supervisors to staunch the killings include instituting a reward tip line, an audit of the SFPD’s homicide unit, the establishment of a homicide prevention council and greater policing at the city’s public housing properties. Mayor Newsom has admitted that he “could have done more” to tackle crime, while noting that surveillance cameras have been set up in high-crime areas, the gang task force has grown in size and funds have been allocated in the ’05 – ’06 budget to hire more officers.
With:
Rachel Gordon.
Airdate: December 16, 2005.
Additional Resources
Mayor reflects on hike in homicide rates
Rachel Gordon, City Hall Reporter, SF Chronicle
No arrests made in 80% of homicides
Charlie Goodyear, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
SF gang leader to get 23 years for role in shootings
Associated Press
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