SAINT JOHN, N.B.- Saint John’s police chief doesn’t believe the city’s homicide rate is on the rise.

A recent Statistics Canada report ranks Saint John’s homicide rate as 6th in the country, showing 2.9 homicides per 100,000 people.

When questioned about several deaths that have taken place in the city in 2012, Bill Reid was quick to point out only one of those was actually classified as a homicide. “Quite frankly when you have those deaths or homicides, often times it’s an assault gone bad”, says Reid. “We’ve had a couple and that’s not unusual”.

Reid adds the force ideally wants the city’s homicide rate to be zero.

Halifax and St. John’s were the only other Atlantic Canada cities to make the top 10 list.