San Jose Mayor Sees No Link Between Layoffs, Homicides
SAN JOSE (KCBS) – San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said he doesn't believe there is a direct link between the recent layoffs of police officers and the city's rising homicide rate.
The latest killing, which occurred near the Roosevelt Park Community Center early Sunday morning, was the 30th homicide of the year and has local residents like Hector concerned.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
"You're at a community center. They take the kids at recess time," he said. "They go back here and play. A crime like this shouldn't be happening."
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said he understands residents' concerns.
"Last year we had 20. That was an unusually low year. Why (the numbers) go up and down is a mystery to me," said Reed. "But criminologists don't have a good explanation."
And although the numbers are troubling, he said you can't blame it on fewer cops being on the beat.
"I don't think you can tie it directly (to that). No one has any proof of any causal link. Most of the homicides happened before we laid off any officers on July 1," said Reed. "I'm concerned about less officers because it means we have less officers to do all the work of the department. Our officers are great. We have a great department. But we need more officers."
Mayor Reed said unfortunately, the city's ongoing budget problems won't allow for that to happen.
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