NYPD Stats Show Crime Down But Murders Up So Far In 2015
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Crime in New York City was down 11 percent over the first two months of 2015, but murders were up.
The NYPD released its latest crime statistics Monday, which showed there were 18 murders in February -- six more than during the same month last year, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Dermot Shea noted that last February's total was a record low.
NYPD Stats Show Crime Down, But Murders Up So Far In 2015
The increase in killings occurred despite 12 consecutive days without a homicide, a new city record.
Commissioner Bill Bratton said most of the murders this year have been localized.
"There are four or five precincts in the last two months accounting for a significant part of what's going on," he said.
NYPD Stats Show Crime Down But Murders Up So Far In 2015
Stop-and-frisk numbers in the problem precincts are also down, but Bratton said there is no evidence of a correlation.
"This is not the bad old days roaring back. This is something that we've got our arms around," the commissioner said.
Bratton said many of the killings appear to be linked to marijuana.
"Marijuana just keeps showing up in some of the most violent acts in the city," Bratton said.
