Why Is This Important?
Ceasefire is a nationally recognized strategy designed to reduce shootings and homicides, decrease incarceration and recidivism, and build positive police/community relationships. Ceasefire is a community-police partnership that focuses solely on preventing shootings and gun violence incidents that have a high likelihood of retaliation. Portland Police Bureau making arrests in homicide cases is an important goal in its own right, and is also a central goal of the city's Ceasefire strategy. Because of the very high rate of reporting of homicide cases, and the seriousness with which they are investigated, this is an accurate measure of the city's investigations and arrests of homicide suspects. It is important to note however, that there are many factors which contribute to the Portland Police Bureau's ability to clear homicide cases, including willingness of witnesses to talk or testify, motive and connections between the victim and perpetrator, etc.