The NYPD has so far solved 59 percent of the murders that took place in 2009, a decline from the 67 percent of cases closed in 2008, according to a report in the New York Post.
The dip comes as the number of homicides is rising. As of last week, there were 27 percent more murders than in 2009, though still far fewer killings than there were 10 years ago.
Police told the paper, which obtained the stats under a Freedom of Information Law request, that it expectsits clearance rate to rise as more slayings from last year are solved in 2010.
The solve-rate for murders last year was lower than the national average from 2008.
In other major crimes, the NYPD showed better results, the Post reported. Cops closed out 75 percent of rape cases, 54 percent of assaults, 42 percent of robberies, and 18 percent of burglaries. In most cases, the numbers were better than the national averages for clearance.
