Murders in San Diego at lowest level since 1968

Of the nation’s 10 largest cities, only San Jose had fewer slayings and a lower homicide rate last year.

By Kristina Davis
Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 3 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — The number of murders in San Diego reached a stunning low of 29 last year, the lowest in more than four decades.

The downward trend is being mirrored throughout the nation and for all of San Diego County, where experts attribute the drop to crackdowns on gangs, more focused policing and better trauma care.

In the county, law enforcement tallied 69 homicides in 2010 — the lowest in at least 30 years, when local government first began keeping a countywide total of murders.

“I’m absolutely astounded at 29 total homicides for a city with a 1.3 million population,â€