KANSAS CITY, Mo. — According to KCPD's homicide tracker, there have been 122 homicides in Kansas City this year.
Sixty-eight of those homicides have been solved and cleared.
When there's limited evidence, police rely on the public to help them solve the crimes.
It's those tips that give them the crucial, missing information they need to move forward with an arrest.
But sometimes, people are afraid to share what they know.
Sgt. Jake Becchina with KCPD said most of the time when police show up at homicide scenes, the suspect has already run away.
They rely on victim and any witnesses who may have seen what happened for information.
Becchina said it's nearly impossible to solve crime when people won't share what they know.
Police are also trying to figure out how to stop arguments from escalating — something that's led to many shootings this year.
"So many times we go to a scene and the story we hear is that two people got in an argument and got guns out and fired shots. And it just doesn't have to come to that," Becchina said.
Over the summer KCPD announced rewards would be increased to $25,000 on information leading to an arrest. Since that announcement, Det. Kevin Boehm with Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers said more people have come forward with information.
"We've been able to solve five homicides in that short period of time, which is significant," Boehm said. "Over the history of our program, we average about seven homicides every year. We've done five in four months."
Rosilyn Temple, who's a part of KC Mothers in Charge, goes to every homicide scene in the city to support families during their most difficult time.
She said she's discovered her purpose after her son, Antonio Thompson, known as Pee Wee, was murdered in 2011.
Her son's care has not yet been solved.
"When they told me that my son was in that apartment, it crushed me, in the worst way. I couldn't even breathe," Temple said. "And to be able to digest this — do you ever digest this? No you don't... You just learn to live, have hope and pray through it."
Temple said she is hopeful her son's case will be solved. Until then, she wants to help others while urging the public to speak up and say something.
If you submit your tips through Crime Stoppers, you can stay anonymous.
You can call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-8477. You can also submit a tip online or download the free mobile app at p3tips.com.
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