Feb 27, 2008 11:33 pm US/Eastern
Most Boston Murders Going Unsolved
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
In the city of Boston, six out of 10 murderers will get away with it.
Recent numbers show Boston has about the worst record for unsolved murders of any city its size.
Police say they need the community to stand up and help solve the killings by working with officers.
Some victims' families say it's because the police aren't working hard enough.
Whatever the reason, the fact is, Boston has more unsolved murders than solved.
It was 3 p.m. in the morning when Renee Rose got a call telling her that her 25-year-old son had been gunned down in the street.
Almost 2 and a half years later, she still doesn't know who killed him.
"It's shocking to know that with all the resources and the money that goes into that police department -- they have enough people to solve these murders," Rose said.
In Boston, most murders go unsolved. In 2005, 40 percent were cleared. In 2006, 37 percent were solved, and in 2007, 40 percent were solved.
Translation: six out of 10 murders are going without arrest.
"Every one of those cases represents a murderer walking around the streets, and I'd like to take them off the street," said Boston police Superintendent Thomas Lee.
Other cities Boston's size are doing a much better job.
Last year Milwaukee had 105 murders with an 84 percent clearance rate. Seattle had 24 killings with a 70 percent rate.
"If you've got 40 percent and the national average is 50 percent and many departments are out there at 70 percent, what we need is community policing," Lee said.
In the last year, the new commissioner has put officers back on the beat. He has added more homicide investigators, and Lee is new to the post of overseeing the criminal investigations division.
"When I look back further and see 27 percent, that's where we were a few years ago, we are up to 40 percent we are trending up, and I would like to be at 100 percent," Lee said.
Rose said she's just hoping her son's murder case is solved and she'll finally have closure.
"I would be very pleased because I would feel, along with my extended family -- we would feel justice," she said.
Homicide detectives give one more reason why it's tough to solve cases in Boston: here more than most cities, they believe criminals operate in neighborhoods where they were born and raised.
So personal connections, as well as fear, prevent witnesses from coming forward.
Boston police ask people to come forward with information about murders in their communities. Anonymous tips can be placed on the Crime Stoppers line at 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word "tip" to CRIME (27463).
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