East Texas city seeks to curb violent crime after spate of killings
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An East Texas city is taking several steps to curtail violent crime after six homicides were recorded over a two-month period, exceeding the number of homicides in all of 2014.
Most of the slayings so far this year in Longview have occurred in a low-income area south of downtown. The string of homicides has also focused more attention on a police department already under national scrutiny for the death of a 17-year-old with a history of mental illness.
Officials plan to increase police patrols in the area while also pushing to increase the number of officers on the force from about 150 to 172.
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Mayor Jay Dean says municipal leaders want to use city and state laws to eliminate blighted buildings that can shelter drug dealers and their customers.