FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Aggravated assaults, robberies, rape – violent crime is down nearly 10% in the city of Fresno, but that’s where the good news ends…
Fresno’s Police Chief Jerry Dyer says murder is plaguing the city.
There have been 53 murders compared to last year’s 38 at this time period.
Gang members are primarily the victims, and the suspects.
Domestic violence, and murder among family members are other factors causing the numbers to rise.
The Southwest, Southeast, and Central parts of Fresno are the hot spots, and in response Chief Dyer is assigning 21 more officers to be be divided among those districts.
Holiday theft and “porch pirates” (seen above) continue to be a problem so Valley residents are warned to keep items out of cars and have their holiday packages delivered to an office or PO box to avoid being stolen off porches.
Chief Dyer says with 39 new officers sworn-in on Tuesday, the police force that was crippled during the recession losing 100 officers, is regaining its strength.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
