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A recent series of killings in Los Angeles has nearly erased impressive gains made this year on the city\u2019s homicide rate, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Over the last 11 days, 19 people have been killed.\u00a0The bloodshed brings the number of killings this year to 70, Beck said during his weekly crime briefing to the Los Angeles Police Commission. Before the rise in violence, the LAPD had been posting double-digit decreases in the homicide rate <\/a>compared to last year, in which a record low 314 people were killed.\u00a0 Now, the city has experienced only two fewer killings compared to the same period last year.<\/p>\n Beck cautioned that spikes in violence and periods of calm are \u201cthe nature of homicide in Los Angeles,\u201d and expressed confidence that police would be able to stem the recent uptick.\u00a0 All but a few of the 19 killings were gang-related and the result of isolated flare-ups between warring gangs primarily in the city\u2019s Hollenbeck and Foothill areas, Beck said. <\/p>\n To counter the bloodshed, the chief has ordered the temporary redeployment of officers from quieter parts of the city to those experiencing the killings.\u00a0 He said he also hoped his recent decision to bolster the ranks of the LAPD\u2019s 21 area stations with more than 150 officers previously assigned to specialized units would help matters.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The increased number of homicides, Beck emphasized, underscores the difficulty of policing the city during the ongoing fiscal crisis that has taken a toll on department budgets.\u00a0 Unable to pay officers for overtime hours, Beck is requiring them to take days off from work instead.\u00a0 The resulting decrease in manpower has made it hard for department commanders to deploy the additional officers needed when violence flares.<\/p>\n Overall, the rate of violent crime in the city, including rape and robbery, remains down nearly 15% over the same period last year, the chief reported.\u00a0 Property crimes, such as auto thefts and burglaries, are also down.<\/p>\n — Joel Rubin at LAPD headquarters<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Photo: Hollywood apartment complex where a woman was slain Friday. Credit: Los Angeles Times<\/em><\/p>\n More breaking news in L.A. Now:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n L.A. County supervisors terminate relationship with foster care agency<\/a><\/p>\n Questions over police firing at chase suspect in rush-hour traffic; investigation launched <\/a><\/p>\n $500,000 donation approved for nonprofit that will run King hospital <\/a><\/p>\n Serial killer Rodney Alcala sentenced to death<\/a><\/p>\n Rain to return to L.A. area as early as Wednesday<\/a><\/p>\n<\/img><\/a> <\/p>\n