As of yesterday, Louisville has recorded a record 69 Homicides in 2007, and with 2 days left in the year it appears probable that number will reach into the seventies. The former record year for murder was 2004, when 66 homicides were reported.
In 2006 the F.B.I issued a report that shows crime in Louisville is growing faster than the national rate. The report stated violent crimes rose 19 percent in Louisville versus 2.5 percent nationally. Property crimes, including vehicle theft was up 5 percent in Louisville, although it's down 2 percent nationwide.
Yesterday Chief Robert White stated his officers must be more proactive in the time where they're not responding to calls. "And I'll tell you there's some thing we're going to do a little different as it relates to our accountability of the officers and how they spend their time and what they're focusing on," he said.
It would appear that Chief White is laying the blame on the patrol habits of officers, but statistics say different. In the 5 years prior to merger Louisville recorded a total of 175 homicides (1998 - 2002), an average of 35 homicides per year. In the 5 years since Robert White has been Chief Louisville has recorded a total of 291 homicides (2003 - 2007), an average of 58.2 homicides per year. That is a 60% increase since Chief White assumed control of the department.
In the televised interview Chief White made no mention of his decision to disband the Street Crimes and Gang units when he assumed command. He made no mention of of reducing the Narcotics unit to a skeleton of its former self and he made no mention of the 100+ department vacancies.
It is time for Chief White to quit looking for someone to blame and start asking himself "What am I doing wrong?"