Homicides Far Outpace Rise in Population : Violence: Coroner’s report blames 100% increase in slayings over past decade on gang activity, especially drive-by shootings and carjackings.

SANTA ANA —  Homicides in Orange County doubled in the last 10 years, far outpacing the population growth rate, according to a report released Thursday by the Coroner’s Department.

Last year, 186 people were slain in the county, compared to 91 in 1982. That 100% increase compares to a population increase of only about 30%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Over the years, Orange County has gone from rural to big city,” Sheriff’s Lt. Dick Francis said. “Now that we’re big city, we’re getting big city problems.”

The report did not surprise Santa Ana Police Sgt. Dick Faust, who said he has seen homicides and other violence increase steadily during his 25 years in local law enforcement.

“From family fights to carjackings to drive-by shootings, it all adds up,” Faust said. “We live in a much more violent atmosphere right now. It’s society as a whole. This is a reflection of what is going on all over.”

The rise in homicides can be blamed in part on gangs, particularly drive-by shooters, Orange Police Lt. Timm Browne said.

“You find kids at a younger age engaging in more violent crimes,” Browne said. “Gangs and drive-by shootings play a great part in what we in Orange are experiencing in terms of violence.”

Browne also said freeway shootings and carjackings, rare 10 years ago, now occur more frequently.

The coroner’s report said a total of 14,877 people died in the county in 1992 of natural causes, disease, accident or violence.

Of those, 339 died of AIDS, nearly triple the number who died in 1987, the first year that the coroner’s office started keeping a record of AIDS deaths.

Deaths from drugs or alcohol totaled 206 last year, a 40% increase over the number in 1982.

But the surprising good news was that traffic deaths decreased in the decade, from 271 to 214 last year, even while the population increased.

Traffic Officer Bill Wedderburn of the California Highway Patrol attributed the drop in fatal traffic accidents to tougher drunk-driving penalties, the seat-belt law and other factors.

“I think the laws brought about by Candy Lightner and Mother’s Against Drunk (Driving) 10 years ago are a major thing,” Wedderburn said. “And there’s more education. Ten years ago, I don’t think you saw seat-belt commercials or the drunk-driving commercials.”

An even bigger factor in the decrease, Wedderburn said, is the way cars are made today.

“Manufacturers have come a long way as far as designing cars to withstand an accident,” he said. “Cars are built lighter and made to give during a collision, which absorbs the impact.”

The coroner’s report also found that deaths by gunshot--both homicides and suicides--jumped to 281 from 185, an increase of 52%.

“There are a lot more guns out there among gang members and other citizens,” Faust said. “Because of that, you’re going to have more shootings.”

Browne added: “People get in disagreements, they shoot each other. Ten years ago, they would have stolen your car, but they wouldn’t have killed you to do it.”