RPD Releases Third Quarter Crime Stats
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: October 23, 2012
Homicides and violent crimes are up in Rochester. Police released their third quarter crime stats Tuesday.
This year, there have been 29 homicides. That's up from 21 at this time last year.
Police say 62.1 percent of this year's homicides are attributed to gang involvement.
The Rochester police made it very clear Tuesday. They know who the people are. They know their friends and they say they have great resources to identify them. The problem is stopping the violent crimes.
"For me, this is painful and frustrating. It's very hard for me to accept," said Chief James Sheppard.
Chief Sheppard handed out the alarming crime stats. The number of shooting victims are up by 79 percent.
There were 95 victims at this time last year. That's compared to 170 this year.
"Based on the fact that we know they are involved in violence and involved in bodies dropping, our focus will be on those individuals or groups," said Chief Sheppard.
The police department uses data to target areas that are plagued by violence. Officers also work with federal and state law enforcement to crackdown on groups.
Although specific strategies were not discussed, Deputy Chief Michael Wood did say law enforcement is attempting to find the most violent gangs in Rochester.
"We need to put these groups on notice and that's what we are doing right now. The fact that those who kill and shoot people are going to be targeted by special enforcement action which is already underway," said Deputy Chief Michael Wood.
Although the numbers increased, Chief Sheppard noted to keep in mind the impact of the weather during the summer.
"Good weather sometimes means bad nights. Very bad weather for me is a good night," said Chief Sheppard
In order to crackdown on the groups, the community must help. Police say they can't do it on their own.
There is some good news. Chief Sheppard says they focused on burglaries for the last two years. Those crimes are now down by 9.5 percent.
This year, there have been 29 homicides. That's up from 21 at this time last year.
Police say 62.1 percent of this year's homicides are attributed to gang involvement.
The Rochester police made it very clear Tuesday. They know who the people are. They know their friends and they say they have great resources to identify them. The problem is stopping the violent crimes.
"For me, this is painful and frustrating. It's very hard for me to accept," said Chief James Sheppard.
Chief Sheppard handed out the alarming crime stats. The number of shooting victims are up by 79 percent.
There were 95 victims at this time last year. That's compared to 170 this year.
"Based on the fact that we know they are involved in violence and involved in bodies dropping, our focus will be on those individuals or groups," said Chief Sheppard.
The police department uses data to target areas that are plagued by violence. Officers also work with federal and state law enforcement to crackdown on groups.
Although specific strategies were not discussed, Deputy Chief Michael Wood did say law enforcement is attempting to find the most violent gangs in Rochester.
"We need to put these groups on notice and that's what we are doing right now. The fact that those who kill and shoot people are going to be targeted by special enforcement action which is already underway," said Deputy Chief Michael Wood.
Although the numbers increased, Chief Sheppard noted to keep in mind the impact of the weather during the summer.
"Good weather sometimes means bad nights. Very bad weather for me is a good night," said Chief Sheppard
In order to crackdown on the groups, the community must help. Police say they can't do it on their own.
There is some good news. Chief Sheppard says they focused on burglaries for the last two years. Those crimes are now down by 9.5 percent.
