Atlanta's Murder Rate Spikes By 22 Percent

"Murders in the city of Atlanta jumped in 2006, up 22 percent from the previous year, according to statistics released Monday by the FBI. There were 110 homicides last year, compared to 90 in 2005. Violent crime, pushed by an increase in aggravated assaults, was up 4.6 percent. Property crimes, spurred by a jump in burglaries, were up 2.6 percent."

"The increase left people in law enforcement wondering whether the numbers are a one-year aberration or the start of a trend showing a rising level of crime."

"Last fall, Police Chief Richard Pennington, at the city's annual 'Crime is Toast' breakfast, boasted that Atlanta's major crimes had fallen to the lowest levels since 1969. But two months later, his department was rocked by the shooting death of a 92-year-old woman in a drug raid gone bad, and a scandal ensued when it was learned that officers had lied to get warrants to enter the home."

"The scandal has little to do with the crime statistics, but it led to a shake-up in the department, causing the chief last month to sweep clean the narcotics unit and make dozens of changes throughout the department. He said the moves are being made to regain public trust."

"Nationwide, violent crime in the United States increased 1.3 percent and property crime decreased 2.9 percent over 2005, according to data from the FBI's Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report for 2006."