New Orleans becomes murder capital of America, overtaking St. Louis
newNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
New Orleans has overtaken St. Louis as the homicide capital of the U.S. as the city has seen a 141 percent increase in homicides over recent years.
According to the data of Metropolitan Crime CommissionAn organization that tracks crime and tries to reduce it, as of September 11, there were 52 murders per 100,000 residents.
I St. LouisAs of Sept. 17, there were about 45 homicides per 100,000 residents, according to data from the St. Louis Police Department.
By comparison, Chicago has about 18 murders per 100,000 residents and New York City has 3.5.
New Orleans has one of the highest homicide rates in the world in 2022
Police vehicles block access to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. On Thursday, city leaders voted to reinstate facial recognition technology for police as crime continues to rise.
(Bryan Tarnowski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Homicides in New Orleans are up 141% from 2019 and 78% from 2021, according to the data, which shows 205 homicides in the city from the start of 2022 through Sept. 11. .
New Orleans 2022 has also seen a 100% increase in shootings compared to 2019.
On September 8, officials in New Orleans announced an $80 million plan to raise the salaries of police officers, offer free health care, and raise $30,000 for new hires within the department.
A New Orleans Police Department vehicle.
(NOPD)
According to FOX 8, the city recently hired Fausto Pichardo, the former chief of the New York City Police Department’s patrol division, to examine ways the police department can better fight crime.
Pichardo said in his report released Tuesday that the police department must take “action now” if the city is to be saved.
“If there is ever an opportunity to save the city and bring the city’s image back, action should be taken now where tourists can come and party and not celebrate.” They become victims” wrote Pichardo.
Click here to get the Fox News app.
A police officer walks down a nearly deserted Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras in New Orleans’ French Quarter, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Hoping to improve a dwindling police force amid a rise in violent crime, New Orleans officials announced three men. -The $80 million-a-year plan Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, offers raises for all officers, free health care and $30,000 in incentive payments for new hires.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
The recommendations include the immediate redeployment of 212 police officers to patrol duties instead of their current assignments.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.