This is an area in which Lawrence doesn’t want to catch up to its larger neighbor to the west.

As 2014 came to a close, Topeka officials were reporting that the city recorded just seven homicides during the year. That’s the fewest homicides recorded in that city in nearly a decade.

Unfortunately, Lawrence hasn’t experienced the same trend. During 2014, Lawrence had six homicide cases, the highest total in at least 11 years and just one fewer than Topeka. Three additional homicides were reported in Larwence in the last half of 2013. Prior to July 2013, Lawrence hadn’t recorded a homicide in about five years.

What changed?

Data from the last decade include five years in which Lawrence had no homicide cases. The previous high during that time period was five homicides in 2005. The average over the decade was between two and three homicide cases per year.

The unusual number of local homicides in Lawrence in 2014 is difficult to explain. The cases don’t seem to have much in common when it comes to motive or other circumstances. Mental health issues may have been a factor in some cases but similarities are hard to identify.

Nonetheless, the rise in Lawrence homicides cries out for attention from local law enforcement, social service agencies or any other officials who might offer some insight into this disturbing trend. Maybe the last 18 months is just an aberration, but the nine homicides in Lawrence during that period certainly warrants examination.