The Region - News from Jan. 16, 1985

The number of homicides (280) and arsons (1,237) were up 12% and 14% respectively in Los Angeles County last year from 1983, despite a 6% drop in the number of major crimes reported, which parallels the national decrease since 1981, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department statistics showed. Gang-related killings (60) remained about the same as in 1983, but due to a greater effort to crack down on gang activity, the total number of gang-related arrests jumped from 7,223 to 10,672, said Sgt. Wes McBride of the sheriff’s gang task force. Sheriff Sherman Block said attention to gang violence, harsher criminal sentencing and Neighborhood Watch programs have contributed to the overall decrease in crime.