And it's part of the reason the clearance rate of homicides remains about 65 percent, while the homicide rate is dropping. The good news is that things are getting better. Still, an unreported crime can't be investigated at all. Technology can't work in a vacuum. The police can't swoop in like superheroes, armed with extrasensory perception and comic book gadgetry, and apprehend all the bad guys.
Public participation is the single most important element in preventing and solving crimes.
The Kupaza case is a perfect example. The young woman allegedly was killed by her cousin, who grew up with her in their native Tanzania. The suspect's ex-wife saw a poster bearing an image of the victim's reconstructed appearance and called police. While this can't bring Kupaza back to life, it may offer closure to her family and friends. And it might help convict and incarcerate someone who otherwise could kill again.