Baltimore County recorded 35 homicides in 2017, and the police department has cleared 74.2% of the cases.

Seventy four percent of county homicides were determined as domestic or associate related, meaning that the victims were known to the assailant, and were not random in nature.

“One homicide is one too many,” said Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, “but I am very proud of our police officers, who work closely with our residents, keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

Per capita, the county’s homicide rate equates to four per 100,000 residents. By comparison, in 1992 the county’s homicide rate stood at 6 per 100,000 residents. Last year there were also 35 homicides committed in Baltimore County. The County’s 74.2% clearance rate exceeds national clearance rates, which averaged 59.4%, according to the latest 2016 FBI data.

“The men and women of the Baltimore County Police Department work day and night to secure our safety,” said Police Chief Terrence B. Sheridan. “Homicides are very difficult to predict from year to year, and it takes well-trained officers working tirelessly in neighborhoods to build relationships to try and prevent these crimes from happening.”

“We will continue to make public safety our number one priority,” concluded Baltimore County Executive Kamenetz. “Nothing is more important to the well-being of our County residents.”