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Hotspot policing first came to public attention early last year when the police descended in force on the College Hill neighborhood. College Hill is a rundown neighborhood in north 51����. No college and no hill, but plenty of poverty and plenty of violence.

In late January and early February of last year, there were four shootings, three of them fatal. The shootings did not seem to be typical gangbanger shootings. Those tend to happen late at night, and involve very young men. Three of the four shootings in College Hill occurred in the morning, when gangbangers are asleep. One of the shootings occurred at 7:53, one at 8:30 and one at 10:05. The other shooting occurred at 8:15 p.m.

Furthermore, one of the victims was 52. Another was 40. The other two were 26 and 27. Even those are advanced ages for gangbangers. What was going on?

All of these shootings are connected with a feud over a woman, police said.

Then the police descended in strength on College Hill. Maybe you remember. Eighty officers from various units were involved in the effort. There were roll calls on the streets. They were covered live on television, of course.

The police department issued a news release. The purpose of this effort was “to aggressively investigate, identify and arrest the offenders responsible for the recent increase in violent crime in the College Hill neighborhood.”

During the 10-day campaign, the police made 40 arrests and seized five guns. But no arrests were made in connection with the four shootings.

A few days after the hotspot policing ended, a 52-year-old man was shot and killed in the same neighborhood. It was another broad-daylight shooting. Police announced it was related to the earlier shootings. But still no arrests. It seemed odd. Generally, if the police know — or think they know — the narrative behind a crime, they know — or think they know — the identity of the perpetrators. If they know the identity of the perpetrators, they can put pressure on them, or on their friends. During the 10 days of hotspot policing, they made 40 arrests. Weren’t they able to put pressure on anybody? Or give somebody a “Get out of Jail” card in return for information?

I poked around the neighborhood a little myself. Who was this Helen of Troy? Was she an older woman? No, I was told. In fact, the first 52-year-old man who was killed was not an intended target. The shooters were looking for one of his younger relatives, and when he was disrespectful toward them, they killed him.

I can’t vouch for the accuracy of that story, but five days after the 52-year-old was killed, one of his younger relatives was shot. He was the one who survived. In July, an arrest was made in his shooting. Carlos Watson, 32, was charged with assault first degree and armed criminal action.

That would give the police a pressure point, wouldn’t it? Those are heavy charges. Each carries a potential life sentence.

But still, nothing on the four killings. Perhaps almost a year later, the police are close. Perhaps not. The department manages information closely these days. I had a formal interview last Friday with Capt. Mike Sack, who commands the homicide unit. “We just need somebody to come forward and confirm what we know,” he said. I asked if police had picked up the suspected shooters during the big push a year ago. “We talked to everybody we needed to talk to,” he said.

Later, I spoke with Antonio French, the alderman whose ward includes part of the College Hill neighborhood. He said he had gone to three of the crime scenes. I said I had heard there were witnesses to at least one of the killings. He said he had heard the same thing. I asked why the people wouldn’t come forward.

“They’re afraid. They feel isolated. They know that in 51����, many people get away with murder. In the end, they will still be living next door to these people. It’s not as simple as ‘Not Snitching,’ ” he said.

No, it’s not simple at all. Nor is this notion of hotspot policing. Maybe it really will be the next big thing, or maybe it just sounds good in theory. That will ultimately be decided by the people in the high-crime neighborhoods. One such vote has already been cast. By not speaking, the people of College Hill have spoken.