When Jayna Murray was assaulted and killed in an athletic store in downtown Bethesda, Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger was quick to say that it was likely “nothing more than a random crime of opportunity.” Even so, the community was stricken with a heart-wrenching mix of grief and concern. Businesses took extra security measures, while shoppers turned in earlier for their own safety. It seems only logical to take such measures in the face of such a brutal crime. Beyond the fear, however, state crime rates per person have actually been dropping since 2005.
According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report, the murder rate in Maryland per 100,000 people was at 7.7 deaths in 2009, which is down from 9.9 deaths in 2005 and significantly down from 11.6 deaths in 1996. More impressive is that this decline was maintained despite an increase in population, from 5.25 million residents in 1999 to 5.7 million residents in 2009. The Montgomery County Police Department also reported a sharp drop in the number of monthly murders from 2008 to 2009, from five murders per month to just one murder per month – again, despite a population increase. The unusually high murder rate in Maryland, relative to other states, is attributable to Baltimore’s 37 murders per 100,000 people in 2009.
Regardless of the crime rates, there is no reason for the public to be any more concerned now than they were before Murray’s death. While crimes might get press coverage because of their brutality, that doesn’t indicate an increase in crime rates. It also doesn’t mean that we, as individuals, are any less safe. It might be frightening for such a brutal crime to occur so close to home, but that single crime, on its own, doesn’t necessarily mean that individuals are more at risk of being the victim of a violent crime. Only overall crime rates can determine one’s risk.
In the wake of the tragedy, extra security measures are already going into place. Shoppers in downtown Bethesda are more cautious of their surroundings, and don’t stay in poorly lit areas for long. Most businesses already have electronic security; those that didn’t before the murder are at least considering installing a security system, if they haven’t already. These changes will all serve to make Bethesda that much safer. The murder of Jayna Murray was a tragic, isolated act, and there is little reason to be more concerned than we usually are.
