As of last Thursday, Baltimore had endured 115 murders in 2006, two fewer than the same time last year. Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm praised his force for the 1.7 percent drop.
Turns out he spoke too soon. Over the weekend, killers shot three people, pushing the homicide count to 118.
Why the “drop” was news to begin with is hard to understand.
Ten fewer murders might mean something. Or 20.
But two?
Hamm should save his praise for a significant drop. In the interim, the Police Department must analyze why nothing changed from last year.
