Murder Rate is Down, But Detectives Are Busy - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather & Sports

Murder Rate is Down, But Detectives Are Busy

Tulsa's homicide rate remains low. So far this year, detectives have seen 26 murders---compared to 2011, 53 total.  What is contributing to the reduction in homicide--and what does this meant to police? Channel 8's Kim Jackson did some checking.

Police say they are not relieved the murder rate is lower than last year. Each day, they are faced with other cases to work.

Ron Henderson walks down Frankfort Avenue alone and in thought.

"They had a guy just drive through the neighborhood and shoot him out here in this area.

He's talking about the friend he lost, Bobby Clark,  in the Good Friday shootings.

But now months later. Ron does feel more safe.

"I haven't heard any gunshots out there. I'm really feeling a lot safer," he said.

Right now the murder rate is down--and there is credit to the gang unit and street patrols for making arrests and putting bad guys behind bars before they kill.

"They go to jail for other things. They are not just committing murder. Murder is just one of the things. They do drugs. They carry illegal firearms. They drive without licenses," said Sgt. Dave Walker.

But police say their workload is heavy.

"Even though we have a hiatus from the actual crime there is still work to be done on other cases that we really do need to follow up on because everyone needs some closure to their killings," said Walker.

There are six unsolved cases: LaHarry Meyers, Marshay Wesson, and her unborn child, Kayla Ferrante and Jordan Sigli.

"There are several right now that we are lacking just that one piece, someone coming forward. We know they are there. We know there are witnesses out there. We know who did it."

They just have to work and be able to prove it.

Tulsa normally has an 80 percent success rate, but detective Walker says he wants 100-percent this year.