Law enforcement authorities in Lake County would like to think good policing kept murders down to 11 in 1998, after 25 the previous year.
Crackdowns on gang and drug crime and more cooperation between police departments helped, they say.
But police recognize the often random nature of crime: Taking credit for the drop from 25 to 11 this past year would mean taking blame for the increase from 12 to 25 in 1997, they said.
“There’s no rhyme or reason to homicides,” said Deputy Coroner Jim Wipper.
A confluence of factors involving the healthy economy, the declining number of young men in the 16- to 25-year-old population range most likely to commit crimes, and innovations in law enforcement probably came together to help keep murders down, police said.
Three of the 11 people murdered in Lake County last year were members of one Gurnee family: Nancy LaMere, 39, and her children, Alexander Lowe, 14, and Lauren Mank, 10. Police said LaMere’s husband, Daniel, shot his wife and stepchildren to death in May before committing suicide.
The situation in Lake County mirrors the national trend of declining rates of violent crime.
There were 9.6 percent fewer major crimes, such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, in the county during the first nine months of 1998 (12,669) than in the same period in 1997 (14,007), preliminary data compiled by the Illinois State Police show.
There were 6.7 percent fewer criminal sexual assaults, 23 percent fewer assault and battery crimes and 45 percent fewer robberies.
More Top Picks Best Monitor Light Bars For Dual Monitors
The drop in crime follows the nationwide trend that authorities attribute to several factors, including the economy. Enforcing mandatory sentencing laws, for example, has kept more repeat offenders off the streets and behind bars.
“There are significantly more career criminals behind bars now than in the past,” said Lake County State’s Atty. Michael Waller, who attributes this to better law enforcement and enhanced penalties for convictions.
Illinois State Police data on arrests in the county back this up. The rate at which criminal suspects were arrested in 1998 improved 6 percent.
“The increased enforcement, especially in the area of gangs and narcotics, is a factor,” said William Biang, deputy chief of police in Waukegan, “We’re continuing to put pressure on gang members and narcotics traffickers. We will arrest them for just about anything and keep them from carrying guns. I think that has had a big impact.”
An increased commitment to community policing has helped police deal with minor problems before they grow into major ones, Biang said.
“And I’m sure the economy has had something to do with it,” he said.