NEW ORLEANS -- Community leaders fed up with the wave of violence in the Crescent City held a meeting at the City Hall to outline a plan to curb violence as a new report reveals how much crime has risen in New Orleans.
According to a New Orleans Police Department crime report, the murder rate in New Orleans stands at 193 compared with 168 last year.
Resident Willie Muhammad is tired of crime, and he said he's fighting back through a group called the New Orleans Peace Keepers.
"This group began in 2009 after the death of a 2-year-old boy who was murdered by his father because he felt that he couldn't pay child support," Muhammad said.
Muhammad said the group works to resolve violence before it happens by mediating conflicts in the streets in high crime areas.
"We were asking for men, black men in particular, to give up one hour on a Saturday to walk through these neighborhoods that are considered to be hot spots," Muhammad said.
However, even with groups like the Peace Keepers, crime continues to rise in the city.
Criminologist John Penny said one only has to listen for police sirens to tell that crime is up.
"We can kind of project from observation research, given the fact that we have not done some of things to abate crime," Penny said.
Penny said police cannot solve the problem alone.
"The community has to get involved. The police department, as well-intended as they might be, cannot solve this crime problem," Penny said.
Some neighbors, including Muhammad, said they plan to get actively involved and offer solutions to trim crime in the city.
"What we're planning to do is come up with solutions," Muhammad said.
The report also shows a jump in nonviolent crimes from last year. Shoplifting is up by 24 percent and theft increased by 20 percent.
Penny said he expects violent crimes to continue rising into the New Year.
According to a New Orleans Police Department crime report, the murder rate in New Orleans stands at 193 compared with 168 last year.
Resident Willie Muhammad is tired of crime, and he said he's fighting back through a group called the New Orleans Peace Keepers.
"This group began in 2009 after the death of a 2-year-old boy who was murdered by his father because he felt that he couldn't pay child support," Muhammad said.
Muhammad said the group works to resolve violence before it happens by mediating conflicts in the streets in high crime areas.
"We were asking for men, black men in particular, to give up one hour on a Saturday to walk through these neighborhoods that are considered to be hot spots," Muhammad said.
However, even with groups like the Peace Keepers, crime continues to rise in the city.
Criminologist John Penny said one only has to listen for police sirens to tell that crime is up.
"We can kind of project from observation research, given the fact that we have not done some of things to abate crime," Penny said.
Penny said police cannot solve the problem alone.
"The community has to get involved. The police department, as well-intended as they might be, cannot solve this crime problem," Penny said.
Some neighbors, including Muhammad, said they plan to get actively involved and offer solutions to trim crime in the city.
"What we're planning to do is come up with solutions," Muhammad said.
The report also shows a jump in nonviolent crimes from last year. Shoplifting is up by 24 percent and theft increased by 20 percent.
Penny said he expects violent crimes to continue rising into the New Year.