No leads: Community must bear part of blame for unsolved slayings

Nine lives gone. Nine murder investigations that have left local authorities at a loss, even months after they occurred.

A story in Sunday's News-Argus described the nine unsolved killings that continue to baffle local law enforcement officials, mostly because investigators have received little or no information that could lead them to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

And the blame for that lies in large part with the community. People who know something about these killings are not coming forward to aid investigators in tracking down those responsible for these violent crimes.

There is fear, of course, of retribution if someone comes forward. And distrust of law enforcement in general. But as Police Chief Mike West said, the community must take some responsibility for solving these crimes. The police are trying. People in the community must try, too.

"You can't force people to come forward with information. ... We've got barriers we've got to get over to get that trust back," West said.

Overcoming those barriers is the first step in solving these crimes. But the police cannot do it without help. Residents must want to be a part of making their neighborhoods safe again.

Published in Editorials on August 15, 2016 10:03 AM