What Will the Murder Count for 2019 Be?

Chester Williams

We are in the last few hours of 2019, and about to enter the New Year. So far, there have been more than one hundred and thirty homicides across the country. That’s the unofficial figure and the police department is expected to release the official number in early 2020. Since Commissioner of Police Chester Williams took over the helm of the department, there has been an increased effort in preventing crime and prosecuting criminals. However, as Williams conceded on Monday, his department failed to achieve a ten percent reduction in murders.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We are not where we wanted to be in terms of our desire was to have a ten percent reduction in murder but we will not be able to achieve that ten percent reduction. Nonetheless we will achieve a reduction. Whatever that figure is I will not say it now until 2019 is over then we will share that figure. In terms of other major crimes we have a significant reduction and so there is a lot to be grateful for and as I said to my commanders this morning that as we approach the end of the year we now need to look at what we did in 2019 and try to see how we can re-strategize in certain areas to ensure that 2020 is a much better year for us.”