PHILADELPHIA -- Homicides are up in Philadelphia by 27 percent.

The city has already recorded 79 homicides this year, up from 62 homicides at this time last year.

In Southwest Philadelphia, the mayor and police commissioner laid out another plan Wednesday to fight the growing crime problem.

About 100 night-side tactical officers who work the streets gathered in the Woodland Village Plaza for roll call with Mayor John Street and Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.

Street stressed that holding the public police roll call was certainly no photo opportunity but a chance to revive his Safer Streets program.

They were focusing on the 12th District because it is one of the most crime-prone areas of the city.

The mayor stressed that he's going to add more police officers to this area, then read down a long list that also included: neighborhood curfew centers; engaging the faith community; enhancing social services; sealing more vacant properties; and removing trash and graffiti.

The police department admitted that officers alone can't solve the crime problem. They said they certainly need the community's help.

The 12th District saw 39 homicides last year and has seen 11 already this year.

"We intend to implement a seriously holistic approach to dealing with the problems in this district, and we're going to do it in a way that respects the community, that respects the rights of people," Street said.

"But we are going to be very, very aggressive in making sure that we root out the bad people, that we get as many of the guns that are in the community as we can, while simultaneously providing the kind of support that a neighborhood deserves and needs."

How does Philadelphia compare when it comes to the number of police officers on the streets? Statistics show there are about one officer to every 222 people.

Chicago has one officer for every 210 people, New York has one officer for every 214 people, and Los Angeles has one officer for every 405 people. Even though those cities are much larger than Philadelphia, they all have fewer murders per year.

Some parents living in the area told NBC 10 that they feel adding more officers is a lost cause.

"Everytime you close your eyes, either somebody got shot behind you, next to you or in front of your house. That's why my main goal is to get out of West Philly to raise my kids somewhere that my kids can walk outside and not worry about getting shot," said resident Melvina McLaughlin.

Some said police need to be more forceful.

"A guy just got shot right here on that corner, and I had just walked by here. It's crazy. ... You can't even take your kids to the park," said resident Josephine Blacker.

Still others feel it's a community problem that children are not being disciplined and turning to guns and violence too often.

"They need discipline, but they're not being disciplined," said resident Hilton Ridley. "The parents should be held responsible for it. ...The police can't do more."

Street said at Wednesday's roll call, "We will be very aggressive in deploying in this area and, as you saw today, we're making an unprecedented commitment of police personnel in the 12th police district."

Added Johnson, "Why do we put the people out here in the 12th District? It's like somebody's shot. You put the tourniquet where you're bleeding at."

The mayor and police commissioner also announced some new phone numbers that citizens can call:

Call 215-686-1459 to join a Town Watch or to become a Block Captain;

Call 215-683-GUNS to report an illegal gun or firearm to the Police Department;

Call 215-683-5770 to become a volunteer at a neighborhood Curfew Center.