Getting away with murder

KILLERS still have a better than even chance of eluding justice in Boston, at least in the short run. So far, police solved 44 percent of the city's 63 homicides in 2008, below the 55 percent national average for similar-sized cities. The "clearance rate" fell slightly from the two previous years, even though Police Commissioner Edward Davis recently expanded the city's homicide unit and brought in new talent.

Boston detectives have a good record for solving so-called acquaintance homicides - cases involving neighbors and romantic partners. But that's the easy pickings. Far tougher are gang-related murders, where witnesses are few or uncooperative. And in cases where the victims did not know their attackers, there may be no witnesses at all.

The ability of Boston detectives to arrest or identify homicide suspects should exceed national averages. The department is well-staffed, with 25 detectives. Investigators have access to local and regional intelligence on gangs. And the state provides funding for protecting witnesses and convening grand juries.

Davis argues that annual snapshots do a disservice to the department. He says police are on the verge of making several arrests that will push the clearance rates above 50 percent for 2007 and 2008.

But the rate remains a blot on the department. Davis may need to do some sleuthing. There could be flaws in the way his detectives monitor progress on cases. Or they may be missing opportunities to improve relations with residents or reluctant witnesses in high-crime areas. Davis is pressing officers to make personal contact with as many as 300 individuals whom police believe are most likely to become perpetrators or victims of violent crime. That's one good strategy. The more conspicuous gang members are to police, the less likely they are to draw blood in 2009.