The number of homicides in Montreal jumped in 2010 but the police insist that the rise is in line with those seen in other cities of similar size.

Police reported 37 homicides in the city this year as of Thursday, compared with 31 last year, an increase of 19.3 per cent.

In Canada's largest city, Toronto, there were 60 homicides in 2010, a drop of two from 2009.

According to population figures from the last census in 2006, that gives Toronto a per capita murder rate of one for every 79,218 residents, while Montreal's is lower at one in 89,638 residents.

Cmdr. Clement Rose of the Montreal police major-crimes division said recent years were relatively quiet because of calm among organized crime groups and street gangs.

But with turmoil in Montreal's criminal underworld in 2010 -- including a Mafia that was completely destabilized -- the numbers were bound to spike.

There were five double-slayings in 2010, compared with the usual two, Rose said.

A daytime double-slaying in the city's financial district last March also left two people injured -- including an innocent man in the wrong place at the wrong time -- and a street gang boss running for his life.

"That was a pretty spectacular crime by Montreal standards, a little like the Wild West," said Rose, who has nearly 28 years experience on the force, including the last three in charge of the homicide squad.

"That's one that caught the public's attention because it left people with a tremendous sense of insecurity."

Carey Isaac Regis and Terrell Lloyd Smith were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder. A third suspect, Kyle Gabriel is being sought on a Canada-wide arrest warrant.

Ducarme Joseph was in his Old Montreal boutique and believed to be the target when two men in wigs burst in and opened fire.

Joseph fled out the back but his bodyguard, Peter Christopoulos, and store manager Jean Gaston were killed. An electrician working in the business was also shot.

"Two crazy guys rushed into a business, they fired 50 rounds inside," Rose said. "It happened in the middle of the day with no regard for the public. People are scared by that."

The three suspects are tied to Jamaican gangs -- but police aren't sure who sent them on their mission.

"We know they planned the attack but who told them is still a mystery," Rose said.

Another case involved the killings of two men at a McDonald's restaurant last January.

The slain men were convicted killer Kirk Murray, 47, and Anthony Onesi, 51, a man who'd given Murray a ride to the restaurant.

Police in that case arrested Jeffrey Albert Lynds, a Hells Angels member in Nova Scotia where he was reputed to be a member of the notorious Nomad chapter.

Two brothers -- Timothy and Robert Simpson, both in their 40s -- also face charges in the case. And other arrests may be forthcoming, Rose said.

Another case that stood out for Rose was the death of Cinthia Toussaint, a 23-year-old mother who was found stuffed in a manhole in May.

Her ex-boyfriend, Mario Romain, was charged soon after with first-degree murder.

"It's really a sad story," Rose said. "But it was tremendous effort on the part of the detectives to make a quick arrest."

Mafia murders are also on the radar, Ross said, but will take longer to solve.

The brazen sniper-style murder of Nicolo Rizzuto Sr. and others close to the ruling Rizzuto clan certainly caught the attention of police.

Organized crime expert Antonio Nicaso told CTV Montreal the increase is due in part to a shift in power.

Nicaso said that when there is a clear group in power, there is less crime visible on the street.

"The mafia is more powerful and dangerous when it does not shoot," he said.

"The Rizzuto clan suffered a blow that could prove fatal… The most powerful mafia clan in Canada (is) facing an unprecedented challenge."

Rose, who worked in the biker gang squad in the late 1990s, said the Mafia slayings pale in comparison to the number of people who were killed at the height of Quebec's infamous biker war.

"Back then, we talked about 1 1/2 murders a week," said Rose.

Rose is optimistic the "omerta", or code of silence, that surrounds the Mafia slayings will change.

"You got to put pressure on the Italians and one day or another one of them will crack," said Rose. "Pressure, pressure and more pressure.

"Two types of people talk to police -- people who fear for their lives, or people who know they are going to be facing life in prison and talk because they want a better sentence or better jail conditions," Rose said.