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Bratton Predicts Lower Crime in 2009
A photog with an unfortunate but funny countenance behind LAPD Chief Bratton at the 2009 May Day March | Photo by A.C. Thamer via LAist Feautred Photos on Flickr
LAPD Chief William Bratton won't set crime reduction goals for 2009 yet, but he did say crime will decline this next year at a press conference today about crime totals in 2008. Although there were a spate of murders in the first few days of 2009, the murder rate declined for the fifth year in a row, this year reaching a total of 386, a number last seen in the late 1960s.
The LAPD's 2008 goal was to reduce crime by 5%, but they only achieved half that number. For 2009, Bratton won't set a goal until a budget is set and he knows that the department will not be victim to more financial cuts. One major obstacle is for them is to have the budget to hire more civilians freeing officers up from desk jobs.
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