The Village of Hempstead is just three and a half square miles with barely 55,000 people. However, the murder rate has more than doubled this year, with five murders so far, compared with four for all of last year.
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Mayor Don Ryan admits it's a problem, despite the fact that overall crime in Hempstead is down.
"The numbers, as to overall crime rate are down - the numbers game doesn't mean much," said Ryan.
In the coming days, Hempstead Village Police will be joined by New York State troopers - a plan the mayor says was put forward by the Nassau County Executive.
"They would patrol in the evening hours," added Ryan.
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Residents who spoke to Eyewitness News said it would make them feel safer.
The reason for the spike in murders is still not clear, but there is a manpower shortage - the Village police force is down 17 officers.
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