Baltimore reports 31 slayings in November

Baltimore has reported 31 slayings in November — the highest total for any month in 2008 — and police are considering new tactics to reduce the violence.

The killings came in spurts, including a shooting in which three were killed.

Police spokesman Officer Troy Harris says November’s statistics “stick out like a sore thumb” compared with the rest of the year.

Despite November’s spike in violence, Baltimore is on pace to end 2008 with significantly fewer homicides than last year’s 282. As of Monday, killings had dropped 19 percent.