Evening star., 1955-09-26
MAJOR Crime
Drops in U. S,
But Rises Here
Need for Larger
D. c. Police Force
Seen BY Murray
By MIRIAM OTTENBERG

showed O slight decrease IN thl
first six months of this yea
while 1t was increasing by II
lper cent here.
| Crime figures for Washington
land the Nation were releaset
to-day In the FBT's seini-annua
uniform Crime Reports.
| On the basis OF the six-naonti
figures. the FBI commented:
"The year 1856 may show /
llong overdue break In the up
ward crime trend Of the pas
seven years
4 Murray's Comments
i or Washington,s slight in,
lcrease In serious crime, Polio
lChief Robert v. Murray com
Imented:
i 1T must be remembered tina
lin the first six months Of 1854
serious crime in the Distric
dropped by nearly 10 per cen
while 1t was rising thronghou
1.-THE Nation by 8.5 per cent.
II don't think we can reducl
lcrime any more than we hav'
lalready with the force we nov
.lhaye.
I'VE have noticed q slight in
lcrease Ia serious crime here dur
ling the past seven months, bu
Icur report for the 1855 fisca
lyear win show = SO per cen
decrease. "
1 222 More Police Asked
Chief Murray. in his budget re.
quest to the Commissioner
earlier this month. asked fol
funds for 222 more men to hrini
1.-THE force to 2,500. He warnes
that crime could not be GU
further unless he had more ner
ION the street.
Washington police continued
Ito stay far ahead Of the nationa
average in their rate OF clearing
'lup crimes. The FBI reported
'Ithat city police throughout tn,
Nation cleared by arrest 27.6 PEI
Icent OF serious crimes during
1884. Washington cleared 6l..
per cent.
I On crime rates. the FBI noted
THAT the 1855 half-year crime
total nationally is IT'S per cent
above the 1851 figure: since
until this year. it has been con-
lsistently climbing.
! In the first six months Of thii
'lyear city crime throughout tn,
Nation decreased by Ia per cent
with rural crime included th'
decrease was Z per cent through
Aout the Nation.
1 Fewer Major Crimes
| Five OF the eight major crime
CLASSES showed decreases nation.
ALLY. the FBI noted. Robber,
decreased by ISL per cent: mur'
der, SO per cent; burglary. s.;
per cent: negligent manslaugh.
tier. 3 per cent. and auto theft
,l.2 per cent.
4 Increases were noted In rapt
with Q 6.3 per cent rise; aggra.
waited assault, IL per cent, ant
larceny. q per cent.
I Here Is how the District Jared
compared with the same perioe
last year and contrasted witt
other cities:
Murder--D Decreased from II Il
Jas cases. or A. per cent; 14tf
with another city, in thu
Nation.
Rohbery--Increased from 49,
ito 408, or 5.42 per cent: ninth
lin the Nation.
| Aggravated ault--Decreasec
from 2.066 to 1853 or 5.22 pei
lcent: third In the Nation.
5.I3% More Burxariies
| Burglaries - Increased from
I1.774 to 1866 or 5.13 per cent
lllth In the Nation.
! Larcenies over $50--Increaset
from 100 to $40 or s.13 per cent;
t12th In the Nation.
| Larcenies under $50 - In.
creased from 1921 to 1882 or L.
lper cent: 18th In the Nation.
/ Auto theft - Increased from
1853 to 1876 or 11.6s per cent: i6tt
lin the Nation.
In a study Of the number oi
persons convicted Of crimes ii
1884. the FBI reported that fiyt
Iout of every seven persons
charged by police were convicted
according to reports from 20l
lcities.
Averages Compared
i This is how Washington's rats
flor clearing UP major crimes
compared with the average
'Iamong the cities reporting:
Murder-97.2 per cent cleared
\ by District police, compared will
1884 per cent cleared in the citieI
reporting to the FBI.
1 Negligent manslaughter--96.t
.Iper cent cleared by District
police. compared with So pei
cent nationally.
/ Rape-96.8 per cent cleared ir
the District. compared with 75.t
Iper cent nationally.
Aggravated assault--90.3 pei
|cent cleared by Washington
Ipolice. compared with 75.6 pei
Icent in the reporting cities.
| Robbery--73.2 per cent cleared
lin the District, compared with
I40.6 per cent nationally.
/ Burglary--58.6 IS per cent cleared
here. compared with 2s.6 pei
Icent nationally.
4 Larceny-47.9 per cent cleared
|by District police. compared witt
I20.9 per cent cleared by polio,
lin the reporting cities.
1 Auto theft--30.5 per cent clear.
led here. compared with ITS pei
cent cleared nationally.