Murder Rate Soars In Philadelphia

(CBS)  Sylvester Johnson is the chief of police for a city in crisis.

So far this year, more than one person a day has been killed, most of them in southwest Philadelphia, reports CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano.

"Right now in the city we're bleeding here in the 12th (district)," said Johnson. "So we assigned extra police officers out here."

But those officers must be pulled from the other districts because the Philadelphia police force has been reduced by 500 in the last three years.

"This little band-aid approach, it's not workable," said District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham. "It's not sustainable, it's meaningless!"

Since 2002 the murder rate has climbed steadily, from just under 300 to more than 400 last year. Half of the killings remain unsolved.

The murder rate in Philadelphia right now is higher than New York City, higher than Los Angeles, higher than Chicago.

Asked why are so many people being killed in Philadelphia, the mayor of Philadelphia responded: "Well, I don't want to quarrel with you about the murder rate because for us, one homicide is too many. Just a few years ago homicides in our city was at a 17-year low."

So what happened?

"Well I mean there are a number of things that go into the homicide rate," Mayor John Street. "There... this is... this is a social problem."

One major social condition is poverty, reports Solorzano. Philadelphia's poverty rate is the highest of any major U.S. city. And Philadelphia is overwhelmed with illegal weapons.

"Now we have youngsters as young as 13, 14, 15 with Tech nines and Mac tens, and semi-automatics," said Abraham.

And it's the youngest victims Chief Johnson is most concerned about.

"What do I tell a 4-year-old child that's been shot and nothing happened?" wonders Johnson. "I afraid we can't protect you in our community?"

A community trying to survive the present, in hopes of saving the future.

[swwils]

We are at fault as a nation that all these crimes are increasing.Back in the day of swift justice people thought about the reaction of their action.The criminal element in this country know they can do murder and if they are caught some crook posing as an attorney will get them a minimum sentence,if any.If we would go back to swift punishment, we would all be better off.

[grimloxz]

"If poverty is the reason for murder, why is the rate so high in Russia and the United States? Why not India and Pakistan then? Or Palestine?" - zootallures2

Listen to rheola. Mac 10's and Tech 9's? They don't make those in the hood as they used to say...

Ridiculously (suspiciously actually) easy access to guns combined with an extraordinarily depressed social system will bring you this effect. I did my undergrad in Philly at Temple University. Being from NY, everyone thought it was 'tough', but I tell you there was NEVER anything in NY that looked like North or South West Philly. The s-h-i-t look like Beirut...

As I traveled the country though I found that a good many American cities looked like Philly - Baltimore, Flint, St. Louis, New Orleans...

Ahhh, the American Dream...

[rheola-2009]

Compare the murder rate in any state of the U.S. with that of Australia, which has very stringent gun control laws, and you will see, if you are not blinded by the propaganda published by the N.R.A. and others, that part of the problem lays with the ridicuously easy access to guns.

Let us now see all the pro gun people jump up in mock horror, with their pathetic reasoning.

For example, we need a gun to protect us from others with a gun, who need a gun to protect etc, etc, etc,

[gunownerdan]

Criminals Prefer Unarmed Victims

a-human-right.com

packing.org

[zootallures2]

If poverty is the reason for murder, why is the rate so high in Russia and the United States? Why not India and Pakastan then? Or Palestine?

[zootallures2]

Louisiana has a higher murder rate than one year of an Indifada between Palestine and Israel.

Iraq under Saddam had a lower prison and murder rate than one US state until guess who showed up?

[hillaryin08]

Here is a solution; Just get the Democrats to pull us out of Philadelphia!

[hillaryin08]

Here is a solution; Just get the Democrats to pull us out of Philadelphia?

[zootallures2]

That's odd... Saudi Arabia, Iran, Eqypt, Israel... have between 50 and 100 homicides in the whole nations per year.

Who are barbaric, backward, violent, loonies?

[phillyartist]

As a Philadelphia born and educated citizen..currently working out of state (I visit often)..it is appalling that it is 'business as usual'..in my beloved city.

When John Timoney was commissioner,Sylvester Johnson was his right hand man. Crime dropped significantly under Timoney..who is currently commisioner in Miami,Florida.

This situation is ridiculous..and it is like the blind leading the blind.Mayor Street has no idea what to do. Commissioner Johnson,a decent man should resign or retire. He has not gotten the job done...and makes excuses. If there has to be assistance from the State Police (like Camden across the Delaware River)..then so be it. Tourists have told me..they will not visit the city of Philadelphia because of the dangerous situation.