The San Diego Police Department today came out with its crime statistics for 2008 . In general crime was down, but there were a few areas of concern. KPBS reporter Katie Orr has details.
The overall crime rate decreased about eight percent compared to 2007. The police department reports there were fewer murders, robberies and assaults in 2008. But rapes increased 27 percent and the number of crimes related to gangs rose about eight percent. Police Chief William Lansdowne says combating gangs will be a focus for the force this year.
Lansdowne: Gangs are a cancer to ever city in America today. And they need our attention. And looking at them in a task force concept, utilizing the services of the district attorney’s office, the city attorney’s office and certainly the federal authorities and the FBI, we’ll be able to bring those numbers down again.
The statistics do show homicides and drive- by shootings related to gangs dropped in 2008. Arrests of gang members were up nearly five percent.
Katie Orr, KPBS News
