There have been a total of 19 homicides within only eight blocks of the Homewood campus since the year began, as the homicide rate in Baltimore climbs to historic levels.
Over 220 people have been murdered in the city of Baltimore since the year began. Some have predicted that the increasing murder rate in the City could reach 300 for the first time since 1999.
Despite the number of murders in the area, Executive Director of Campus security Edmund Skrodzki insisted that the campus is safe. "When you look at recent crime statistics for the Northern Police District, where the University is located, you will find a lower crime rate in contrast with other areas of the city," Skodzki said. "The Homewood Campus and Charles Village proper continue to be among the safest areas in Baltimore City."
According to Skodzki, Hopkins will respond to the increase in murders this year the same way they have adjusted to fluctuations in the past.
"Campus Security continually reviews the crime trends and adjusts the deployment of our security forces to increase the safety of the Hopkins students and community," he said.
Skodzki also stated that the risks Hopkins students face are the same as "the security concerns and inherent risks of any large city."
Hopkins security was increased after the murders of two students within a nine-month span.
Christopher Elser was killed in 2004 after being attacked during an altercation at the Sigma Alpha Episilon fraternity house.
Linda Trinh was killed in early 2005 in her apartment by Donta Allen, who pled guilty to the murder last year.
"We attribute the relatively lower incidence of crime on campus and areas proximate to campus to the multi-layered security presence established over two years ago," Skodzki said.
Though the Baltimore Police did not respond to requests for comment, Skrodzki said that the Campus Safety and Security unit has "an excellent relationship with the criminal investigative section of the Baltimore Police Department."
Hopkins meets daily with BPD criminal investigators, review all criminal activity committed in the neighborhood and work closely providing resources that we have available in solving crimes or resolving crime related issues, Skrodski said.
Security patrols upper Charles Village 24 hours a day in vehicles, on foot patrols and Segways.
In addition the area is patrolled by seven to eight armed, off-duty armed Baltimore Police Officers and AlliedBarton Security bicycle officers. Security also patrols the northeast section of Remington, but does not patrol Waverly.
"The combined efforts of campus and contractual security, off-duty armed Baltimore Police officers, and state of the art technology has enabled us to be more proactive in crime prevention," Skodzki said.
Individual members of the campus patrol declined to comment, deferring all questions to the office of security.
It was announced on Wednesday that Baltimore police officers have signed contracts that change their work schedules to four-day workweek with ten-hour shifts.
This doubles the amount of police on call during peak crime hours and decreases the strain on officers who used to work in shifts of six days on, two days off.
In a statement on Sept. 21, Mayor Sheila Dixon addressed the subject of the rising murder rate in by saying that she plans on increasing new recruits to the Baltimore Police force from 240 officers to 300 officers per year.
According to an annual report by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, there were 276 homicides in Baltimore in 2006.
This was seven more murders than in 2005 and exactly the same number of killings as in 2004.
In 1993, when murder rates reached 353, Gov. Martin O'Malley won his campaign for mayor on the promise that he would help reduce the number of murders to 175.
Though the homicide rate did decrease by 15 percent, it rose again in 2003 and has continued to rise steadily.
The Web site "Baltimore Crime" keeps a running tally of the number of murders and other crime in Baltimore.
As of Sept. 24, it says there have been 233 murders in the city. This total contradicts that of The Baltimore Sun, which says the homicide rate is at 225.
