Forest Hills 112 Precinct had no homicides last year as well, and Baysides111 Precinct reported only two in 2000.
Queens had a six-month rate this year of three homicides for each 100,000 residents as compared with the national rate of six per 100,000 and New York Citys total of eight. These rates are from FBI and other data.
Among the other boroughs, the projected 2001 homicide rates per 100,000 residents, based on current trends, are: Manhattan, seven; Bronx, 14.5; Brooklyn, 7.76, and Staten Island, 2.6
Queens, with a population of 2.2 million, had 37 homicides during the first six months of this year, was well below last years 60 deaths. The entire city had 289 homicides thus far this year, down from 335.
The lowest number of City homicides during the first six months of 2001 was the six on Staten Island, down from 14 in 2000. The highest number was in Brooklyn, with 97 homicides the first half of this year, but down from 115 last year. Bronx is right behind, with 94 homicides this year as against 100 in 2000.
Among the factors most often cited for the drop in homicides were high arrest rates, drug law enforcement and a good economy. In Queens, added factors included the large number of property owners and immigrants, who tend to create more law-abiding communities.
Richard Brown, Queens district attorney, cited as a contributing factor the police focus on violent predators who commit multiple crimes. Their next robbery, he said, could lead to a homicide. He noted that aggressive drug-law enforcement, along with an emphasis on reducing low-level crimes, also played a role.
Other crime experts added such factors as a smaller youth population, a diminishing crack epidemic, a low unemployment rate and a change of values away from drugs and guns.
Chief Thomas Lawless, the borough commander for Queens South, confirmed to The Queens Courier that all of these factors played a significant part in the drop in homicides. "Queens is leading the city in crime reduction because it has reduced violence, and that has dramatically reduced homicides," he said. "In Queens South, for example, in the first six months of this year there were 59 people shot as compared with 97 for the same period last year, a 39 percent reduction."
Chief Lawless pointed to increased gun arrests as a key factor behind the homicide reduction. "We identify on a daily basis where the crimes happen and move to get guns off the streets," the chief explained. " Get guns off the streets, and homicides drop."
Particularly effective, he said, is the Police Dept.s Gun Stop program. "This is a call-in program with a $500 reward for tips on illegal guns. Anyone can call 1-866-GUNSTOP (486-7867) and report someone with an illegal weapon and claim the reward," the chief said.
Queens reduced homicide rate this year is comparable to that of wealthy suburban communities.
