Halifax police have solved every murder in last 2 years

HALIFAX — It’s hard to forget the spike in homicides that plagued Halifax a few years ago.

“We did go through a period of time in 2009, 2010, 2011 where we had extraordinary high numbers for the city,” said Supt. Jim Perrin, Halifax Regional Police.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We did go through a period of time in 2009, 2010, 2011 where we had extraordinary high numbers for the city," said Supt. Jim Perrin, Halifax Regional Police.

There were 18 homicides in 2011; 15 were solved by Halifax police.

In 2012, the city saw 12 homicides but police were only able to solve seven. The murder rate started to decline in 2013 with six homicides in Halifax; police cleared 4 of them.

In 2014 there were 6 homicides, all of which were solved. So far this year, police have laid charges in all 9 of the homicides they’ve investigated.

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“It’s all over the place. There is no cookie cutter approach to these files because every one has its unique characteristics and you just have to investigate with your best practices that you have in place,” said Perrin.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's all over the place. There is no cookie cutter approach to these files because every one has its unique characteristics and you just have to investigate with your best practices that you have in place," said Perrin.

The stats don’t surprise the families of victims who have dealt with police during murder investigations, like the mother of Melissa Peacock. “Not at all. Not after what we went through and what we got to experience first hand. I’m not surprised at all. They do an amazing job,” said Ruth Peacock-Slaunwhite.

A lower homicide rate in the city this year over prior years means that police have time to investigate cold cases.

Investigators recently laid charges in the 2004 homicide of Kevin Bowser, the 2010 homicides of Ryan White and Donald Chad Smith, the 2011 murders of Keya Simon and James Wareham, as well as the 2012 homicide of Kaylin Diggs.

“These files are very complex. They take a lot of effort by a lot of individuals and what we look for is the lulls in the crime of the day so we can focus on the crimes of yesterday,” said Perrin.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "These files are very complex. They take a lot of effort by a lot of individuals and what we look for is the lulls in the crime of the day so we can focus on the crimes of yesterday," said Perrin.

One of the most high profile cases Halifax Regional Police have been able to close in 2015 ended with the arrest of notorious crime figure Jimmy Melvin Jr., for the murder of a rival gang leader.

“The Marriott file that we were able to bring to resolution a few months ago, I mean, that happened in 2009, so the fact that we were able to close that so many years later. It’s great for family, it’s great for the investigators,” said Perrin.

Police say some of the success they’ve experienced lately comes from taking a new, team approach to solving murder, an approach that is providing much needed closure to the families of victims.

“Thank you is not even close to enough,” said Ruth Peacock-Slaunwhite. “That’s the only bit of satisfaction your gonna get is seeing these people behind bars and if they can give that to the families, that’s amazing.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Thank you is not even close to enough," said Ruth Peacock-Slaunwhite. "That's the only bit of satisfaction your gonna get is seeing these people behind bars and if they can give that to the families, that's amazing."