by Joseph Giacalone, NYPD (retired), adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
In 2019, the FBI reported that there were 16,425 homicides in the U.S. This is a slight increase from 2018, however, a 10.6 increase from 2010. Of the 16,425 homicides, the police cleared 62%, leaving 6,274 homicide cases still unsolved. Rising homicides, lower clearance rates, and more cold cases mean more violence.
I’ve been involved in cold cases for over a decade now. As the former Commanding Officer of the Bronx Cold Case Squad, I understand the role that cold case investigators play in reducing crime and building bridges. I understand the devastation an open case does to families, and I certainly noticed that perpetrators of cold cases share many commonalities. Usually the suspect is already on the radar of police and the criminal justice system; the suspect often has a previous violent history, often including intimate partner violence; and the suspect is often connected to several criminal cases.
In an age where police departments stretch to improve community relations, little attention is paid to closing cold cases. There is a myriad of reasons for this. Cold cases are long-term investigations. They cost a lot of money. And if they were that easy to solve, detectives would have already closed them!
But more so, many police departments simply don’t have a cold case unit, and such cases are investigated only on an ad hoc basis. Defunding the police will only hurt cold cases even more, though prosecutors’ offices may be able to lend a hand with personnel.
Solving cold cases is easier said than done, but I guarantee you one thing, the cases won’t close themselves.
So why bother with cold cases? It’s a Win, Win, Win situation. There are three immediate benefits.
First, the cold case investigator is the last liaison between the public and the police. They are the last stop, the last chance, and for many, the last hope for any closure. Quite simply society has a moral responsibility to the victims of brutal crimes. The families of murder victims must not feel left behind, as if nobody cares.
Second, the media and the public are enamored with cold cases. These efforts bring about goodwill and a chance to improve police-community relationships. The use of social media and reports in traditional media can enhance a department’s ability to get the word out, which can lead to tips.
Third and most important, violence begets violence. With so many cases opened, perpetrators are free to commit other heinous acts. Identify, arrest, and incapacitate.
If you could peer into any cold case file room, you would find that the overall majority of cases have a gang or drug nexus. These cases have few leads and even fewer witnesses. Clearing cold cases is tough by definition, but there are certain advantages that may accrue over time which cold case squads can utilize.
At the time of the crime, members of the public are often too frightened to help. This fear may lessen over time. Only a dedicated team of investigators will follow these leads.
Forensics continue to improve. New technologies are emerging every day. It was only a short time ago that forensic genealogy brought the Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo, to justice. Over two decades he killed 13 and raped many more. Dogged determination and new forensics led to his capture.
So few are responsible for so much heartache. I am always baffled by the unwillingness of police chiefs to tackle cold cases. Solving cold cases also provides chiefs with a personal benefit: it improves their homicide clearance rate for that calendar year no matter how old the case was.
Solving cold cases is easier said than done, but I guarantee you one thing, the cases won’t close themselves.
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Joseph Giacalone is a retired NYPD Sergeant SDS (Supervisor Detective Squad), current adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the author of The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators, 3rd Edition.
