Murder cases in the unincorporated area of Harris County were down in 2010 compared to the previous year, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia announced last week.

The year 2010 ended with 65 murder cases in the unincorporated area of Harris County, compared to 87 in 2009 and 70 in 2008.

Garcia said it was unclear what led to the decrease.

“There is no single reason why murder case numbers go up and down, but we’re relieved that they declined this year,” Garcia said. “Let’s start 2011 by pledging to work together to keep violence on the downward slide.”

Of the 65 murder cases, 50 were solved, earning the HCSO’s Homicide Unit a 77 percent clearance rate.

There’s also been no recent spike in overall violent crimes in Harris County, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

“Murders are some of the hardest crimes to prevent,” Garcia said. “But even in the face of a hiring freeze, our investigators and patrol deputies continue to work hard to prevent deadly violence. We look to the law-abiding public for daily help in preventing crimes and in solving crimes after they have taken place.”

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