Puerto Rico Murder Rate Surges; 32 to Start 2018 The amount of murders so far is double what it was during the same 11 days last year. "The lack of police is increasing Puerto Rico's safety issues. Everybody is feeling that insecurity." Puerto Rico's homicide rate is normally much higher than the United States (20 per 100,000 compared to 3.7 per 100,000) but with the recent murders, that number has started to rise. To make matters worse, Police Chief Michelle Hernandez resigned on Monday, despite only being in the role for a year. Many residents fear the killings are related to gangs and drugs, and that the number of murders will only continue to rise.
