No homicides so far in 2025, Worcester Police report; 16 recorded in 2024
This time last year, Worcester had seven homicides, six of which were from firearms, Chief Paul Saucier said.
'These things happen in cycles,' Saucier said. 'Could they erupt right now? Yeah. But we have things in place so when it does erupt to go after it.'
Worcester's first homicide in 2024 was in February, a month that had two homicides, which was followed by two homicides in March and three homicides in April. There were no homicides in the city in May and June 2024.
In August, a mother and daughter were stabbed to death.
While September had no homicides, October saw two homicides in the city, followed by three in November and ending with two in December.
According to the FBI's online Crime Data Explorer, the 16 homicides in 2024 are the most reported by Worcester since 1986, the earliest year the data is shown. Police records and Telegram & Gazette coverage confirm these findings.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, June 6, the city hasn't had a single homicide.
In 2025, there has been seven nonfatal shootings with eight victims and 27 nonfatal stabbings in the city so far this year.
'We're able with this unit to go out there and investigate every single shot fired, including every single ShotSpotter incident. And then these guys are able to get there. They can gather evidence on the scene. They can gather video. And they have the time to put this all together, where in the past detectives were so busy,' Saucier said. 'If nobody was hit and there was no property crime, you really wouldn't see much more investigation into it. So by working this group and that's all they do, they can concentrate on those dangerous offenders and take them off the street.
'You have to have a lot of different methods in order to combat gun violence,' Saucier added. 'Between programs and suppression, everything has to combine and then you do have to be lucky as well, because you could have one person out there who could be a crime spree themselves.'
Although no one can know why there have been no homicides in the city this year so far, Saucier said he thinks several Worcester Police Department outreach programs have contributed to the drop.
'We always have a somewhat lower homicide rate than comparable cities and I believe a lot of it has to do with the programs that we do conduct,' Saucier said. 'We started a new program this year. It's called the Worcester Police Scholar Engagement Program and that's within the Worcester Public Schools, where we were in 32 schools, spoke to 2,000 students.'
Saucier said the program explores the difference between a gang and a group, myths about gang membership, and the consequences of drug involvement and social media.
'What we try to do is we go into every health class in the city, sixth grade,' Saucier said. 'We figure that is the age where we need to pay the most attention to the students, because once you get into junior high, it can go either way.'
Saucier said the Worcester Police Department wants to have a positive impact in the school. Since resource officers are no longer in the schools, Saucier said the Worcester police still want to create that relationship and the understanding where children trust in police, knowing when they have a problem, the police will come to them.
In addition, the Worcester Police offers PAAL League Basketball for 14-week spring and fall programs, as well as the Worcester Police and Clergy Youth Mentoring, and Arts and Music Police Partnership programs.
The Police Department's Summer Impact program, aimed at deterring violence during the warmer months, began Memorial Day weekend.
'We're going to increase that and keep it going, hopefully, until September, October this year because, when school starts, violence erupts again,' Saucier said.
Then, there is the Worcester Police Department's enforcement and suppression.
Saucier said his department works extensively with Ronald B. Waddell, executive director and co-founder of Legendary Legacies. Waddell is a certified gang specialist through the National Gang Crime and Research Center and a certified youth mental health specialist.
Calling programs including Legendary Legacies 'violence interrupters,' Saucier stressed the importance of having people who can communicate and relate with 'kids in the street.'
The Worcester Police Department also launched its Crime Gun Intelligence Unit in April 2024, which works closely with the State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
'Departmentwise, so far this year we have confiscated 43 crime guns. Sixteen of those came from the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit. And the big thing is they were able to trace 209 crime guns,' Saucier said. 'One gun could be responsible for nine shootings. So it's very important. Those 43 guns we got, how many lives were saved by confiscating those crime guns.'
Having police visible and involved in community engagement program is also a huge deterrent to violent crime, Saucier said.
'Every day, during their shift, they need to get out of the cruiser, walk around for 30 minutes, talk to people, but they're being seen,' Saucier said. 'You're creating that human-to-human contact instead of just a cop driving by in a car. That's a huge thing for us and I think it works.'
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: No homicides so far in 2025, Worcester Police report; 16 in 2024
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Arson investigation after men caught burning Lime Bike in Oxford park
Arson is suspected after several men set fire to an electric Lime Bike in a park in Oxford yesterday afternoon. Emergency services responded to an incident in the car park of Hinksey Park, of Abingdon Road, at about 5.45pm yesterday, Saturday, Jul 12. Three men were seen by eyewitnesses lighting the Lime Bike, a hireable E-bike available in Oxford city centre, on fire before fleeing when firefighters and police officers arrived. READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson revealed text to sacked Christian Horner A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: "Thames Valley Police is investigating an incident suspected to be an arson in Abingdon Road yesterday afternoon. "Thames Valley Police were contacted by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service at 5.45pm yesterday to reports that an E-bike was on fire in a car park on Abingdon Road. Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get: Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app "The fire is suspected to be an incident of arson. "The fire service extinguished the fire and nobody was injured. The bike has been badly damaged and is not usable. No arrests have been made. READ MORE: Concerns raised in Didcot as new council HQ approved "We would ask anybody who witnessed the incident or who has any information that may assist our investigation to contact Thames Valley Police on 101, quoting reference 43250350513." It comes as temperatures reached more than 30 degrees on Saturday, and large numbers of people gathered in open spaces like Hinksey Park to enjoy the sunshine. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue have been approached for comment.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Las Vegas cops face 2% cut in take-home pay thanks to planned increase in retirement contributions, union says
Las Vegas police officers have decided not to go on strike after department employees were asked to consider work action in the face of a planned increase to their retirement contributions that union officials say would decrease their take-home pay. Instead, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association (PPA), the union representing officers, has entered talks with the department regarding pay increases, according to the Las Vegas Journal-Review. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it 'Due to the fear of retaliation, rather than support for the officers by their immediate leadership, we made the decision to ask our members to continue to work and allow the PPA, through newly expanded contract negotiations, to fight and get the pay cut fixed so officers do not lose a single penny of pay,' Steve Grammas, the union's president, told the publication in a story published July 3. Here are the details behind the contribution changes, why it could mean a pay cut for officers and how it all came to this. In November, the state-run Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) decided to increase the contribution rate for Nevada police and fire employees up from 50% of gross pay to 58.75%. Contributions are shared equally between employees and employers. Combined with a 2.6% cost-of-living pay increase also taking effect, Grammas told the Journal-Review that take-home pay for officers would decrease by around 2% starting July 18. The figures prompted the union to poll its members, asking them to consider actions that would result in work disruptions starting July 4. But, the union opted to negotiate. The PERS program gives participants guaranteed income for life after they retire. Ideally, contributions and investment earnings would cover pension payouts, but that hasn't been the case for decades, reports the Journal-Review. As of fiscal year 2024, the system was only around 75% funded with an unfunded liability of $20 billion. To address this shortfall, PERS has increased its contribution rates, and since local governments have to pitch in their half, that leaves them less money to boost take-home pay. Local broadcaster 8 News Now also reports a struggle to keep up with pay and retirement benefits has led to a staffing crunch, a situation that can further impact contributions. Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. In a situation like this, where employees receive a haircut to their take-home pay through no fault of their own, there may be a few options available to try to deal with the issue, including: Transferring to a location where contributions aren't so high or looking for a job elsewhere that has better terms for employees Working overtime to make more money to make up for the pay decrease, or starting a side-gig Finding cuts to make in your budget, such as dining out less, cutting a streaming service or trimming other non-essential expenses If you work a union job, press leadership to negotiate better terms None of these options are ideal, but if you need to make up for lost income, they may be among the few choices workers have. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are the 6 levels of wealth for retirement-age Americans — are you near the top or bottom of the pyramid? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Money doesn't have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump was shot a year ago today. The conspiracy theories about it persist
President Donald Trump said he turned to look at a chart displayed at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13, 2024, when pops rang out as a shooter on a nearby roof fired eight shots toward the then-candidate. The footage from the incident shows Trump flinch, raise his hand to his ear, and check it to find blood before crouching down behind the lectern. He appeared in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a few days later to accept the Republican presidential nomination with a bandage on his ear. The FBI later deemed that a bullet had struck Trump in the ear, either whole or fragmented, though unfounded conspiracies initially questioned if it was glass or some other piece of shrapnel that injured the president. But a year later, the conspiracy theories haven't stopped. A quick scroll through X shows close-ups of Trump's ear comparing recent and old photos and false theories that the assassination attempt was staged. Here is what we do know about the shooting, and what questions remain: More: One year after Trump's attempted assassination, how politics has changed On July 13, 2024, Trump was speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman positioned on a rooftop near the rally fired multiple shots toward the then-presidential candidate. Trump was shot in the ear and ducked behind the lectern as Secret Service agents swarmed him and ushered him off stage. However, they did not get him out of public sight before he raised a fist in the air as blood streaked down his face in a photo moment that would be a defining image of his campaign. The shooter was later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, and he was killed by law enforcement. Crooks appeared to have acted alone and did not belong to any particular political leanings. A spectator at the rally was killed, and two were critically injured. Yes, multiple pieces of evidence show Trump was struck in the ear by a bullet. A bipartisan congressional task force was created in the weeks following the first attempt to "investigate all actions by any agency, department, officer, or employee of the federal government, as well as state and local law enforcement (LLE) or any other state or local government or private entities or individuals, related to the attempted assassination," according to a December report from the task force. A timeline of events included in the report shows Crooks fired three shots at 6:11 p.m., with one round hitting Trump's ear before his detail immediately covered his body. A few seconds later, Crooks fired five more shots, the report stated. A week after the shooting, Trump's previous White House physician Rep. Ronny Jackson issued a memo on Trump's injury. "The bullet passed, coming less than a quarter of an inch from entering his head, and struck the top of his right ear," the memo posted to X read. "The bullet track produced a 2 cm wide wound that extended down to the cartilaginous surface of the ear." Dr. Anthony Fauci said on CNN that the doctors' reports indicated it would just be a surface-level wound with no further complications. Trump has mentioned multiple times that he still experiences a "throbbing feeling" in his ear where he was shot. Between the incident in Butler and a second apparent attempt on Trump's life two months later at his golf course in Florida, some Republicans also stirred up conspiracies about the shooting. Trump himself blamed Democrats for the plots while on the campaign trail. The congressional task force report argued that the Secret Service and other federal agencies failed in some of their planning, execution and leadership. The Secret Service also said on July 10 it disciplined six staffers with suspensions without pay between 10 days and six weeks, and it was implementing some of the recommendations from the congressional report. Trump, now in office, said he was briefed by multiple agencies on the shooting in a previewed clip of an interview with daughter-in-law Lara Trump. "They briefed me and I'm satisfied with it," Trump said on Fox News' "My View with Lara Trump." "There were mistakes made, and that shouldn't have happened ... I have great confidence in these people." But Rep. Mike Kelly, the Pennsylvania Republican who chaired the task force, said he was continuing to push for more answers about the agencies' failures. "We can't quit on it because we never got the answers," Kelly said in June in an interview with the USA TODAY Network at his Butler office. "The public deserves to know what happened that day." Contributing: Zac Anderson, Matthew Rink, Bart Jansen, Josh Meyer, Jeanine Santucci, David Jackson, USA TODAY Network Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Was Trump really shot? Yes, despite conspiracy theories, see evidence
