Houston’s Murder Rate tops 400 for 2020 Sharp Increase over the 281 in 2019 By Nicole Hensley Houston Chronicle HOUSTON — Just before the end of a harrowing, exhausting, virus-ridden year, Houston police were dispatched to the city’s 400th murder — a 15-year-old boy who was shot at an apartment complex in the Alief area. Police found the teen’s body around 8:30 p.m. Monday in a parking lot outside the complex in the 8000 block of Cook Road. Investigators found witnesses to the shooting, HPD police Lt. Larry Crowson said, and authorities are hunting for the two men believed responsible. The killing solidified the year’s murder rate — calculated by the number of known murders per 100,000 people — as one of the worst in three decades. The number is a sharp increase from the 281 deaths last year, but the rate is comparable to those of 2006 or 2007, according to a Chronicle analysis of Houston Police Department statistics. The current rate — which does not include accidental deaths, those killed by police officers or charges dependent on a grand jury indictment — is still dramatically lower than that of 1990, when 681 people were killed, and Houston was home to over 1.6 million people (compared with about 2.3 million now). Violent crime, which has been on the decline in recent years, increased slightly in Houston during the pandemic months, with aggravated assaults driving that uptick, records show. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo marked the implications of the latest death Tuesday in a tweet and vowed to “stem the tide” next year. “2020 can’t end fast enough,” the chief said. “Our city, state, & nation have suffered much from the impact of COVID, illness, death, economic malaise, and an increase in violence. Sadly, as of today, 400 Houstonians have been victims of murder.” Hours later, investigators hurried to another fatal shooting at West 34th Street apartment complex, which could increase the count. Houston’s killings loomed just shy of 400 on Sunday, when Mayor Sylvester Turner cautioned that Houston was not alone in its crime wave, pointing out that other major cities also have reported a rise in violence. Clearance rates for solving murders have also declined. Turner pointed to pandemic-induced pressures as a predominant factor, highlighting domestic violence among the issues. “The challenges that people are facing: Losing their jobs, losing their businesses, dealing with the stress of social isolation, substance abuse, mental behavior and health issues,” the mayor said. “This pandemic has created a number of issues for a number of people.” EDITOR - While the mayor may blame COVID, The BLUES believes the murder rate is rising due to the new slate of liberal judges that have filled Harris County Judicial benches. Along with DA Kim Ogg who doesn’t seem to have any interest in making changes. Eddie Garcia Takes Over as New Dallas PD Chief Reducing Crime is Top Goal for New Chief DALLAS — Incoming Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia says reducing violent crime and gaining the community and staff’s trust are among his top goals when he starts in February. During a virtual news conference on held in December where he was formally introduced as Dallas’ 30th police chief, Garcia said he plans to listen to his staff, criminologists and residents on ways to decrease crime. A former California police chief, Garcia will be the first Hispanic chief in Dallas’ history. Garcia, who retired as chief of San Jose last year, will replace outgoing Police Chief U. Renee Hall, Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced at the conference and his first day on the job is set for February 3. Garcia spent nearly three decades rising through the ranks of the San Jose Police Department before eventually taking over the top job there. He will succeed Hall, who was the first woman to serve a Dallas chief, after she announced she’d be leaving at the end of the year following criticism from city officials over her leadership amid protests and unrest that swept the country over the summer. Garcia, 50, said he felt the statistics and perception of crime in the city went hand in hand — and that both had to go in the opposite direction. He said he felt residents can judge whether his plans are successful by their perceptions of crime in the city, how present officers are, and their collaborations with the community. Garcia beat out several other candidates, including current Dallas commanders, and will take over the department as it struggles with a rise in violent crime get your FREE SUBSCRIPTION to The BLUES, scan the QR code or click here. and dearth of trust among some Black and Latino residents. Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata said he looks forward to working with Garcia, although his organization had hoped an internal candidate would be named chief. Garcia brings decades of experience to Dallas and the Texas city has a population similar to San Jose’s in size and demographics. Mata said the new chief will also have his work cut out for him in bringing down Dallas’ murder rate and would do well to surround himself with commanders who know the city and its politics. 18 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 19
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