Deadly crime in Denver near a record low
Why it matters: The city's sharp descent mirrors a nationwide shift away from COVID-era crime spikes, with major cities like Los Angeles and New York reporting some of the steepest homicide declines on record — challenging the narrative that urban crime is spiraling.
By the numbers: As of July 13, Denver's homicide rate was 2.7 per 100,000 people — the city's second-lowest midyear figure since 2004, per Denver Police Department data analyzed by Axios.
State of play: Denver police Chief Ron Thomas tells Axios that a multi-pronged strategy is working:
👮♀️ Better staffing: DPD has largely overcome an officer shortage — now at 95% capacity (with about 1,550 officers) — enabling quicker response times and increased visibility.
🧠 Smart enforcement: Patrols in crime hotspots like Lower Downtown and East Colfax are paired with infrastructure fixes, like better lighting, to deter violence.
✅ High clearance rate: With an 83% solve rate for homicides, better evidence-gathering tools and stronger community trust — which has led to more tips and information-sharing — are getting results.
⛑️ Street medicine: Police have improved on-scene trauma care, like tourniquets and chest seals, to save lives before paramedics arrive.
🤝 Community partnerships: Organizations like Struggle of Love are stepping in before violence escalates — mediating conflicts and keeping at-risk youth engaged.
🗣️ Advocacy: Groups like East Students Demand Action have helped push for tougher gun laws at the state level.
Yes, but: Not all of Denver's trends are encouraging. Youth violence remains stubbornly high, Thomas notes, and crime persists in nightlife corridors.
Between the lines: One of the hardest things to change is public perception. Despite the drop in violent crime, Thomas says fear remains high.
"We are working with the mayor's office to get to the root of those things that impact people's perceptions," Thomas says. That includes reducing open drug use, unsheltered homelessness and retail theft.
What they're saying: "These numbers represent significant accomplishments by our police department, sheriff's office, and outreach teams in protecting the innocent and making Denver what we know it can be: the safest city in the country," Mayor Mike Johnston told Axios Denver in a statement.
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