CHICAGO (AP) - Despite a sharp drop in homicides, Chicago has regained a title it didn't want: America's murder capital.

 

The city finished 2003 with 599 homicides, police said Thursday. That was down from 648 a year earlier and the first time since 1967 that the total dipped below 600.

 

Still, the nation's third-largest city outpaced all others for the second time in three years. New York, with about three times the population, ended the year with 596 homicides. Los Angeles, which had the most murders in 2002 at 658, wound up 2003 with an estimated total just under 500.

 

Chicago's new police superintendent, Philip J. Cline, joined colleagues elsewhere in blaming homicides largely on a volatile mix of gangs, guns and drugs.

 

But officials pointed to a new system established in June, partly inspired by New York's computerized crime analysis unit, that contributed to an 18 percent drop in Chicago murders in the second half of 2003 compared with a year earlier.

 

In New York, the unofficial murder tally of 596 compared with 584 in 2002. That was a 2 percent jump but still made 2003 the city's second straight year below 600 - dramatically less than the 2,245 homicides recorded in 1990.

For those wondering about Detroit.......

 

"No final figures were available, but an FBI report in mid-December put the city on a pace to end 2003 with its fewest homicides since 1968. The total would be about 365, the FBI said."

The murder capitol of the world is in South America and the murder Oprah house of the world is La Scala.

For those wondering about Detroit.......

 

"No final figures were available, but an FBI report in mid-December put the city on a pace to end 2003 with its fewest homicides since 1968. The total would be about 365, the FBI said."

I hate slackers

Yes Chicago finally wins something

Were #1,Were #1

CHICAGO (AP) - Despite a sharp drop in homicides, Chicago has regained a title it didn't want: America's murder capital.

 

The city finished 2003 with 599 homicides, police said Thursday. That was down from 648 a year earlier and the first time since 1967 that the total dipped below 600.

 

Still, the nation's third-largest city outpaced all others for the second time in three years. New York, with about three times the population, ended the year with 596 homicides. Los Angeles, which had the most murders in 2002 at 658, wound up 2003 with an estimated total just under 500.

 

Chicago's new police superintendent, Philip J. Cline, joined colleagues elsewhere in blaming homicides largely on a volatile mix of gangs, guns and drugs.

 

But officials pointed to a new system established in June, partly inspired by New York's computerized crime analysis unit, that contributed to an 18 percent drop in Chicago murders in the second half of 2003 compared with a year earlier.

 

In New York, the unofficial murder tally of 596 compared with 584 in 2002. That was a 2 percent jump but still made 2003 the city's second straight year below 600 - dramatically less than the 2,245 homicides recorded in 1990.

We had 801 and we only have 3.6 million people

I guess if we want the murder rate down we could put Bill Wirtz and JR in charge.

I guess if we want the murder rate down we could put Bill Wirtz and JR in charge.

Sure but u would hav only 2 murders then.