The nation's capital, Washington, D.C., is experiencing a troubling trend of increasing homicides and a declining rate of solving these crimes. This issue of unsolved killings is deeply affecting the families of the victims, who long for justice and closure. Asiyah Timimi, whose husband Aqueel was fatally stabbed in a dispute in January 2021, expressed her fear, saying, "You just don't feel safe until they're caught." Natalia Mitchell, whose son Morris was fatally shot in March 2022, shared a similar sentiment, stating that a successful arrest of her son's killer "doesn't bring Morris back, but it would help."

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has seen a significant drop in the percentage of homicides solved this year, putting the city on track to have its lowest clearance rate in over 15 years. As of November 13, only 75 out of the 244 homicides committed in 2023 have been solved by the police. When factoring in the 33 prior-year homicides cleared so far this year, the overall closure rate stands at approximately 45%. This rate is significantly lower than the national average, which typically hovers between 50% and 60%, according to Rick Rosenfeld, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

A low clearance rate, especially in homicide cases, has detrimental effects on police morale and community trust. Christopher Herrmann, an associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former crime analyst supervisor with the New York Police Department, explained that it can lead to a lack of faith and cooperation between the community and the police. He highlighted the importance of public cooperation in investigations and how a lack of it can create a negative cycle of decreased trust and cooperation.

Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, Lyndsey Appiah, acknowledged the significance of closure for victims and the importance of consequences as a deterrent to crime. Despite acknowledging the crisis facing the city, Appiah pointed out the complexities of the public safety crisis, including the rise in homicides, violent crimes involving juveniles, and carjackings. The decrease in the number of police officers, staffing issues, and problems with crime scene analysis were cited as potential factors affecting the clearance rate.

The MPD's current staffing level is around 3,300 officers, down from 3,800 in 2020, and the department aims to increase the number of officers to 4,000. Police union officials have criticized the D.C. Council for implementing anti-police policies, which they believe have driven away officers and hindered recruiting efforts. Additionally, the Department of Forensic Science lost its accreditation in spring 2021, leading to the outsourcing of crime scene analysis and causing delays and increased costs.

Appiah argued that it is too early to judge the success of homicide investigations as they can take months or even years to solve. She pointed out that an arrest made in late October for a killing that occurred in 2009 would count towards this year's clearance rate. However, with only a few weeks remaining in the year, it would require a remarkable number of successful arrests to prevent 2023 from having the lowest homicide clearance rate in over 15 years.

The impact of unsolved killings extends beyond the victims' families. Ronald Moten, a community activist who experienced the loss of his half-brother in an unsolved case, emphasized the devastating effects on both the Black community and the police department. Closure, he explained, is part of the healing process and holds those responsible accountable. Preventing the negative cycle from deepening is a top priority for the city, and Appiah stressed the importance of community involvement and trust in uprooting violent criminals and ensuring public safety.

Asiyah Timimi, who experienced the loss of her husband and the shooting of her son, Khalil, outside of Washington, now focuses on taking care of her paralyzed son and running a charitable organization. She expressed her fear of a return to the days when Washington led the nation in per-capita killings. Timimi reminisced about the high number of funerals she attended in the '80s and '90s and emphasized the feeling of being forgotten when a case remains unsolved.

In conclusion, Washington, D.C., is grappling with a surge in homicides and a decline in solving these crimes. Families of the victims are left without closure, and the low clearance rate erodes trust and cooperation between the community and the police. The city is facing a complex public safety crisis, including staffing issues, problems with crime scene analysis, and increased violence involving juveniles and carjackings. The need for community involvement and trust is crucial in resolving these issues and ensuring public safety.