Capital City Crime on the Rise
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Violent crimes rose 18% in Little Rock over the past year because of a decline in street patrols, police said.
Police statistics show homicide climbed to 45 from 41 a year ago. Rapes rose by six to 124 in the same period.
LRPD Sgt. Terry Hastings says the department is down about 80 officers because of military deployments and budget cuts.
Several officers had to be reassigned to street patrols, Hastings said.
The department plans a rookie academy in the Spring.
