This summer, residents of New York City breathed a sigh of relief as the ongoing trend of historically low shooting incidents continued unabated.
According to recent reports released by the NYPD, the city has experienced its lowest rates of shootings and gun violence victims for the first nine months of the year, reflecting a remarkable decline in crime statistics.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch attributed this encouraging trend to an unprecedented deployment of officers—a strategic shift that involved reassigning personnel from desk jobs to patrol duties specifically in high-crime “summer zones.”
“In May, we deployed up to 2,300 officers to 72 targeted summer zones spanning close to 60 neighborhoods, marking the largest operational deployment in NYPD history,” Tisch announced during a press conference.
“This initiative was not merely about the scale of deployment; it emphasized strategic precision, and its effectiveness is evident,” she stressed.
Further reinforcing this progress, the newly released crime statistics indicated that the subway system has achieved the highest safety levels during July, August, and September in years.
Crime incidents on the subway decreased by over 4%, reaching the lowest point in 15 years when excluding the period impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “This past third quarter outside of COVID saw nearly a 14% reduction in major crimes,” Tisch reported.
According to the latest NYPD numbers, nearly all categories of major felonies in September saw a decline compared to the prior year, with murders decreasing by an impressive 27%. Year-to-date figures show an 18% drop in homicides compared to the same timeframe in 2024.
While the overall crime stats painted a positive picture, reported incidents of rape saw notable increases of 13% in the last quarter and 19% year-to-date. Officials have linked this rise to changes in state law that have broadened the definition of rape.
As of now, New York City has recorded 553 shooting incidents this year compared to 693 during the same period in 2024, reflecting profound progress.
The 216 shooting incidents reported in the third quarter of this year constitute the lowest figure ever recorded for that timeframe, according to NYPD officials.
These promising statistics represent a bittersweet moment for Mayor Eric Adams, who appeared alongside Tisch in his first public appearance after announcing he would not seek re-election.
Crime rates had surged in New York City and other metropolitan areas following the tumult of the pandemic, a crisis that persisted through Adams’s initial tenure beginning in 2022. However, a notable turnaround began in January 2024, initiating a streak of seven consecutive quarters with substantial declines in major crimes, as evidenced by NYPD data.
Adams had hoped these improvements would energize his campaign for another term, but a series of scandals—including his unprecedented indictment on corruption charges—complicated his re-election efforts.
In his remarks from the podium, Adams took the opportunity to criticize mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, labeling his policies as “problematic” for public safety, while asserting that he is leaving the city in “good shape.”
“Things have improved so much that many of you may not even notice. But believe me, you will miss me,” Adams remarked playfully.
With a nod to former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he concluded, “As I took office, I was told, ‘Don’t f—k it up.’”
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