Our Views: EBR murders rise in 2013

The death toll from murders in East Baton Rouge Parish totaled 83 in 2012 — two more than the 81 homicides reported in the parish in 2011. Those grim numbers are a reminder that violent crime is a continuing problem in Baton Rouge, and this issue should be a concern for Baton Rouge residents from all walks of life.

The Advocate recently published names and photos of the 2012 murder victims with brief accounts of how they died. Scanning the pictures and death narratives offered tangible proof of a grim and commonly understood reality. Most of the murder victims were young black men caught up in the morally bankrupt drug culture of the inner city.

That shouldn’t make the loss of life any more bearable for residents of Baton Rouge. The loss of human life should always be regretted, regardless of the circumstance. Nor should the concentration of violent crime in Baton Rouge’s poor, black neighborhoods lead other Baton Rouge residents to assume that violent crime isn’t their problem, too.

Violent crime anywhere in Baton Rouge compromises public safety everywhere in Baton Rouge. Left unaddressed, such criminal activity promotes a culture of lawlessness that threatens all of the city’s neighborhoods.

One bright spot in Baton Rouge’s murder tally for 2012 was an apparent decline in murders in the last half of last year — perhaps a result of a new crime prevention program aimed at Baton Rouge’s most violent neighborhoods. Last year, local law enforcement officials joined forces to inaugurate the Baton Rouge Violence Elimination project.

Modeled on similar, successful efforts in other U.S. cities, BRAVE uses a mix of incentives and deterrents in attempting to steer offenders away from lives of crime.

After a recent lull in murders, there were three murders within a five-hour period. Such apparent victories and setbacks suggest the tough slog ahead for local law enforcement officials. To prevail, these first-responders will need the help of local churches and civic groups, as well as the cooperation of residents throughout the parish.

We look forward to the day when The Advocate requires less space to record the deaths of local murder victims. We hope that next January, readers will see fewer faces of lives cut short in 2013.

Comments

1) Comment by bourbon-soda - 17/01/2013

@crazycajun, thanks for response. Your point seemed to be that the murder rate would rise because in increment of deaths would be attributable to a 20 minute increment in ambulance time. My point is that there is unlikely to be any discernible rise in that rate. I say this, first, because most homicides seem to be discovered as dead bodies. Of those transported to the hospital, a few deaths may be attributed to the length of transport, but I doubt enough to shift the statistics, and there might be countervailing benefits. Consolidation of resources may produce superior results through economies of scale to offset whatever increment occurs - for example smaller charity hospitals seem to lack some subspecialty services (like neurosurgery - not sure that this is the case at EKL) that might be available in the larger center. This is a multifactorial problem. Or, is there a standard that imposes obligation on government to ensure that there is a high level trauma center within twenty minutes of every - I started to say citizen - resident?

2) Comment by crazycajun - 17/01/2013

bourbon-soda, I misspoke. I should have said "my point" not "the point". Sorry

3) Comment by bourbon-soda - 17/01/2013

The gun control frenzy resembles the drunk looking for his wallet under the streetlight even though he lost it in the alley because it's dark in there. You can get hurt going after real criminals.

4) Comment by Springer98 - 16/01/2013

I agree with you nimby? The black on black homicide problem will never be stopped by the police. It will have to be stopped from within the black community. I also don't recall a single homicide in the black community that was committed using an assault rifle. I believe the penalties for a crime using any type of gun should be much more severe.....

5) Comment by nimby? - 16/01/2013

Springer98 , could it be demographics ? forgiving minds will suggest we study cause and effect . such as education(doesn't work if you don't attend) , breakdown of the family unit(multiple generations living under the same roof not learning from the mistakes of the previous) , lack of employment opportunities(employer seeks qualified applicants , not going to work at Apple with a 6th grade education) , lack of a father/strong male figure(no comment) ...

6) Comment by Springer98 - 16/01/2013

Something that is stunning to me, when I look at the homicides map, is the fact that it doesn't show a single homicide in Central!! Most of my relatives & many of my friends live in Central. Every one that I know in Central owns guns.I would bet, that per capita, there are more guns in Central than in any other town in the parish. With so many guns there, why isn't there a homicide problem there? Can ANYONE answer this question?

7) Comment by Springer98 - 16/01/2013

I wonder how many of these killings were done by convicted felons? Do you have that info DMJ? I'm sure you know that it is illegal for a felon to be in possession of a gun.

8) Comment by DMJ - 16/01/2013

Go ahead... read about each one on the murder map... there are a couple of head bashings, a few stabbings...but the lion's share (I'd water it to be between 85%-90%) are shootings. Don't believe me? See for yourself: http://theadvocate.com/multimedia/homicidemap

9) Comment by bourbon-soda - 16/01/2013

@crazycajun - you made a statistical assertion, and I countered with one. I may be wrong, but that's not missing the point.

10) Comment by Being_Stupid - 16/01/2013

Anyone wanna guess how many of these murders were committed by young black traitors who listen to thug-hater music and embrace socialism? Shame this younger generation of traitors has squandered the sacrifice of their ancestors for freedom and equality. This is not what Martin Luther King Jr. and his generation, or the generation of Fredrick Douglass fought for. The dream has been turned into a nightmare by the small number of traitors and thugs that unfortunately represent the whole. Ever since the early 1990s this pandemic of thug culture and embracement of socialism has eroded the character of once was a strong race of people. Where have all the Bill Cosbys gone? I don't see any leaders with the likes of Clarence Thomas, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, or Allen West rising from this new generation tainted by thuggism and saturated with socialism. My mother, nor my grandparents, nor myself ever called ourselves "African Americans". We are Americans.

11) Comment by crazycajun - 16/01/2013

bourbon soda you've missed the point totally. Access to fast surgical intervention will a lot of times dictate if the patient survives. Every minute is crucial so the patient doesn't bleed to death. Add an extra minimum twenty minutes ambulance ride across Baton Rouge and the chances of surviving are greatly reduced. You won't have more patients being shot but you will have more not surviving. I have personally witnessed this up close and personal. I speak from fact and not opinion.

12) Comment by DMJ - 16/01/2013

Anyone wanna guess how many of these murders were committed with guns?

13) Comment by phil - 16/01/2013

8point6 - Yes we must all blindly follow the person who was voted back into office again and apparently says there is not a crime problem in BR. Are you not brainwashed yet?

14) Comment by nimby? - 16/01/2013

what is sad is that there are a lot of good kids , with shyty parents who could care less . they never have a chance . in order to make something of themselves they must separate themselves , move on . if they stay , to survive they become part of the pack .

15) Comment by bourbon-soda - 16/01/2013

Closing EKL is unlikely to have any discernible effect on homicide or general mortality rate, which is multifactorial.

16) Comment by Duckyluve - 16/01/2013

This is a culture problem. There is nothing the police can do to fix it. Until the black people who live in the black neighborhoods decide they have had enough NOTHING will change, so quit expecting someone else to solve your problems

17) Comment by Chucky - 16/01/2013

“homicide numbers have decreased during the final four months of 2012.” ( January 03, 2013 The Advocate ) “Baton Rouge’s murder tally for 2012 was an apparent decline in murders in the last half of last year” ( January 16. 2013 The Advocate ) So we are now missing Two months as half of last year would be six months. So far this January is making up for the so-called lull for those months in 2012. More officers on the street is a good thing, but so far there is no "bright spot"

18) Comment by crazycajun - 16/01/2013

If u think the murder rate is getting higher just wait until EKL closes. And that's not just the murder rates. Add to that heart attacks and car wrecks. More people will not be shot but more will die trying to get to OLOL. With gunshots especially, quick surgery is the only solution. Add that EXTRA time getting to OLOL and u can see the problem. There are individuals in north BR that are walking around that dead. They just don't know it. Sleep tight L'il booby and his supporters of this action because u will have blood on ur hands.

19) Comment by [e-mail] - 16/01/2013

Nobody cares; these days there is no compassion for humanity in general. There is a concerted effort by the popular culture to focus solely on personal gratification and such senseless deaths are ignored by the media so as to protect innefectual government and the public unless it touches their own lives.

20) Comment by 8point6 - 16/01/2013

"Those grim numbers are a reminder that violent crime is a continuing problem in Baton Rouge," There is no crime problem in BR, per the mayor.