Victims of violent crime honored as homicides continue to increase

In 2005, there were only 18 homicides in Monterey County. Ten years later, that number has tripled.

Friday marked an emotional day for friends and families in the county as they remembered and honored victims of violent crimes in Monterey County in light of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

“When this happened, it completely crashed my world and it has still been heartbreaking for me,” Lisa Dimas said. Her son was murdered. “I still go through it everyday even though it has been four years already.”

With the pain still fresh in their minds, loved ones said the names of those taken too soon in hopes that they would not be forgotten.

“These people that are out there, they don’t know how they affect, when they commit these murders, they don’t know how they affect everybody,” Debbie Sorto said. Her grandson was murdered in 2015.

There were 61 homicides in 2015, which is almost double the amount in 2014. Law enforcement believe the increase has to do with a lack of resources.

“We’re doing everything we can with very limited resources, and unfortunately, it’s not to the scale that we need, it’s not to the level that we need in Salinas to be super effective. That’s what we’re challenged with now,” Salinas Police Chief Kelly Mcmillin said.

Law enforcement officials tell KION that cutting the Monterey County Gang Task Force resulted in an increase in gang activity. Another challenge across the county, there aren’t enough officers to fight rising crime.

“Some of these smaller agencies, they don’t have the resources, and when they get hit with two, three murders, we come in and we pick it up,” Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo said.

Authorities said there is still hope; solutions include more people joining understaffed sheriff and police departments, along with witnesses in the community coming forward.

“People know who are doing these crimes, so anonymous calls to law enforcement, anonymous tips to law enforcement, can go a long way for bringing justice to the victims who are here today.”

Of the 61 homicides in Montery County, 40 were committed in Salinas. So far this year, there have already been 16 homicides in Montery County.