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IT IS NOW CAUSING A STRAIN ON RESOURCES. IT’S BEEN A BUSY START TO 2019 FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE STATE HAS HAD 14 CONFIRMED MURDER CASES SO FAR, WHICH IS ONLY FOUR FEWER THAN WE NORMALLY SEE IN AN ENTIRE YEAR. >> A LARGE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES HAS TO BE EXPENDED IN THESE CASES. TIM: AND THOSE RESOURCES ARE FEELING THE WEIGHT OF THIS MANY CASES. WE SEND TO PROSECUTORS TO EVERY, AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DOUBLE UP OR TRIPLE OF WHEN WE HAVE NUMBERS LIKE THIS. TIM: RIPPLE EFFECTS TOUCH OTHE AREAS AS WELL INCLUDING THE , STATE POLICE MAJOR CRIME UNIT. >> THEY AR AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. TIM: INVESTIGATORS CAN BE OUT ON CASE FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS, IF NOT LONGER. >> THERE ARE SCENARIOS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT FOR ONE CASE AND ANOTHER CASE COMES IN AND THEY MIGHT BE SHIFTED TO THAT CASE AS WELL. THEN WE WOULD BRING IN OTHER ASSETS, OTHER EMPLOYEES. TIM: IF THEY EVER FEEL OVERWHELMED, THERE IS HELP ON STANDBY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT’S PEERS SUPPORT UNIT. >> THEY WOULD SPEAK WITH THEM, IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE, AND IF IT CAN BE RESOLVED AT THAT LEVEL, IT WILL BE. IF NOT, WE WOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE TROOPER RECEIVE ADDITIONAL CARE. TIM: MAJOR MARASCO ADDS THAT T MAJOR CRIME UNIT IS A DEDICATED GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE DRIVEN TO BRING JUSTICE TO VICTIMS. DESPITE THE INCREASE, NEW HAMPSHIRE STILL HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST VIOLENT CRIME RATES IN THE CO

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New Hampshire law enforcement officials are investigating 14 homicides across the state -- a higher number than normal -- and the investigations are straining resources.Officials with the Attorney General's Office said New Hampshire has an average of 18 homicide cases each year. They said there's no specific reason for the increase, but the cases require significant resources to investigate."For us, it's a strain on our prosecutorial resources in the office," said Associate Attorney General Jeff Strelzin. "We send two prosecutors to every scene. Sometimes we have to double or triple up when we have numbers like this."Ripple effects touch other areas, including the State Police Major Crime Unit. "Investigators within the unit, they are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said state police Maj. John Marasco.Investigators can be out on a case for one or two days, if not longer. "There are many scenarios where we might have people that have been called out for one particular case, and if another case comes in, they might be shifted to that case, as well, and then we would bring in other assets, other employees," Marasco said.He said any troopers who feel overwhelmed can get help through the department's peer support unit."The peer counselor within the state police would speak with them, identify what the cause of the issue is and then, if it can be resolved at that level, it will be," Marasco said. "If not, we would make a recommendation that the trooper receive additional care."Marasco said the Major Crime Unit is a dedicated group of men and women who are driven to bring justice to victims. Despite the increase in the number of homicides this year, New Hampshire still has one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the country.