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Murders Jump in Obama’s Back Yard as Chicago Cuts Police Hires

By John Lippert and Mario Parker

Dec. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The recession is stinging in President-elect Barack Obama’s hometown, where the Chicago Police Department is slowing hiring even as murders increase.

Murders in Chicago rose 16 percent in the first 10 months of the year. The city’s homicide rate is triple New York’s and double that of Los Angeles. Thirteen pupils have died from gunfire since the semester began in September, said Mike Vaughn, a spokesman for Chicago Public Schools.

“When economic prospects go down, crime goes up,” said Rev. Marshall Hatch, 50, pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church on the city’s west side. “This is exactly the worst time to cut police manpower.”

The council’s decision to reduce police hiring next year by about half, to 200 officers, will save $10 million. The budget also requires firing as many as 759 workers in other departments.