Crime On The Rise, But Homicides Down In Sacramento So Far In 2016

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The Sacramento region saw the highest growth rate of major crime out of any major city in the country, according to a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The numbers don't lie—violent crime, murder, aggravated assault and burglary are all up from 2014.

"We did have a certain spike at the beginning of 2015 in our homicides and certain violent crime types," said Sacramento Police Sgt. Justin Brown.

Homicides jumped from 28 in 2014 to 43 in 2015.

"There's not one reason and one answer why that spike occurred but all I know is that one is too many," Brown said.

A look back beyond last year shows numbers that were even more grim—in 2006, Sacramento had 57 homicides.

"If you take a look at years 2012, 2013, and possibly 2014 we had some historic lows," he said.

So far, 2016 is looking better with fewer homicides in the first two months of the year than in 2015.