Evening star., 1955-07-24
District Crime
Rate Declines
To 7-Year Low
$3.50 Of offenses
Were Cleared Up
In Last IL Months


crimes-and its police solved a
higher percentage of them-dur-
ing the year ending June 80 than
at any time since the Police De-
partment's present crime-report-
ing system went into effect seven
years ago, Police Chief Robert v.
Murray reported last night.
OF the serious crimes during
the 1855 fiscal year. 55.6 per cent
TobIe Showing District Crime Rates BY
Yeor. Pooe Az
were cleared up by arrest or
other means, he noted. This COM
pares with a national average
clearance rate of 27 per cent.
Some major cities clear up less
than is per cent of their serious
crimes.
In the six previous years of
the FBI-approved crime report
ing system, Washington police
never cleared as high as so per
cent Of the serious crimes-de-
scribed by the FBI and police as
Part l Offenses."
All Homicides Solved
All criminal homicides were
solved during the past fiscal
year.
The average clearance rate
for all serious crimes was
dragged down by auto thefts,
where the clearance rate was
28.4 per cent. Chief Murray
explained that while about 95
per cent of the stolen cars are
recovered, the case is not con-
sidered cleared until an arrest
is made.
Not all felonies are included
In Part Offenses," Chief Muir
ray reported that for all felonies.
police cleared an even higher
percentage of cases-69.9 per
cent.
This is the second successive
year that the rate of serious
crime has gone down in Wash
ington. During both years, the
national rate of crime has been
on the increase.
Seventeen Crime Low
During the past fiscal year,
Chief Murray reported, crime
has been reduced another Sc
per cent to a seven-year low of
1920 serious crimes. The total
Of A murders was not only 39.7
per cent lower than the previous
year but was the lowest in 20
years.
Chief Murray reported there
were 2,424 fewer serious crimes
here in the past fiscal year than
in fiscal 1949 despite the in
creased population of the Metro
politan Area over that period.
1--WE still have too much crime
here" he commented. II believe
the crime rate can be further re-
duced and the clearance rate in
creased if we had more men.
Many cities with as large a
population as Washington have
much lower crime rates. But they
also have more men on the street
Boston, for instance, averages
about 5000 serious crimes a year
Boston has a force OF 2,817 men,
Washington has 2,280 men"
Less Crime During Strike
He said he believed the crime
figures for July would show a
decrease because there have been
more men on the street for
longer hours and on more days
due to the transit strike.
He pointed out that he could
not keep that up on a year.
round basis since the men get
no overtime pay and couldn t
stand the strain of their present
hours indefinitely, anyhow.
Chief Murray recalled that the
District Council on Law Enforce
ment established by Congress,
the Criminal Justice Association,
the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations and various other citi-
zens and business groups have
all gone on record for a $500
mar police force. The Commits
sioners have consistently op-
posed it.
Murray Praises Police
The chief attributed the rec
ord-breaking clearance rate to
high morale. plainclothesmen
working around-the-clock where
necessary and the success of men
on the beat in catching criminals
in the act.
Since last November, he said,
men walking beats and riding in
scout cars have captured more
criminals at the scene of their
crime than at any time in his
memory.