Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced today that the Metropolitan Police Department will close out the year with the highest closure rate for homicides in the last 10 years.

As of December 31, 2007, the city has had 181 homicides and MPD experienced a homicide closure rate of 69.6 percent.  This year’s total number of homicides is the second lowest in 22 years. This is also the fifth straight year that the homicide clearance rate has been more than 60 percent. For 2006, the homicide closure rate was 64.5 percent. In 1997, the homicide closure rate was 70.1 percent. 

Chief Lanier attributes this achievement to the hard work and dedication of the leaders and detectives of the Violent Crimes Branch and gives kudos to the community for their cooperation and support. The higher closure rate is also due in large part to the reorganization of MPD which centralized the Violent Crimes Branch.  Detectives are now assigned to districts and respond to violent crimes in those districts, rather than being deployed throughout the city.  This centralized operation of the Violent Crimes Branch has allowed detectives to become familiar faces in the community, and residents are more willing to share information.

“Residents in the District are willing to step forward and be supportive in bringing closure to homicide cases, which is not always so in other jurisdictions where witness intimidation is a more serious problem,” said Chief Lanier. “More and more, people are no longer willing to tolerate criminals living in their communities.”

An overwhelming majority of homicide cases have been closed based on calls from members of the community and anonymous calls to the tip line. Residents who have information about a case are encouraged to call (202) 727-9099.

Under Chief Lanier’s leadership, the MPD introduced several initiatives and programs to improve public safety. To read more about the MPD’s 2007 Year in Review, please visit mpdc.dc.gov/yir2007*.