Latest news with #MajorCitiesChiefsAssociation
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Defund movement faces 'absolute rejection' as murders drop and police budgets climb: law enforcement group
Some major cities have spent recent years increasing support for their police and saw a drop in homicides, something one law enforcement group says indicates an "absolute rejection" of efforts to defund such as Philadelphia, Denver, Minneapolis and New York City have increased their police budgets and have seen lower homicide rates in the first quarter of 2025, compared with Major Cities Chiefs Association, which compiled data from Jan. 1–March 31 in 2025 and 2024, showed that several cities with increased funding for police also experienced a drop in saw a 28% decrease in homicides year to date, while Minneapolis saw a 54% decrease, and Denver experienced a decrease of almost 59%.CHICAGO ALDERMAN SLAMS THE MURDER CAPITAL'S 'DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE'According to the New York City Police Department, there has been a 28% decrease in murders year to of these cities have something in common: Local lawmakers voted to increase police budgets in 2024, despite pressure from activists who wanted to defund the officials in Minneapolis voted to increase their police budget by 6% in 2024, according to MPR News. New York City also increased funding to its police department in Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who took over the department in November 2024, said in a January op-ed for the New York Post that her focus on recidivism is helping make the city CRIME DROPS IN TOP 10 LARGEST US CITY AS POLICE USE GRIDS TO TARGET WORST OFFENDERS"Make no mistake: These crime reductions were achieved thanks to the hard work and grit of New York's Finest – but we know that many New Yorkers don't feel safe," Tisch said. "Their perception of public safety has become their reality, and we know why: surging recidivism. . . . The deck has been completely stacked against our cops by a shocking lack of accountability for crime."National Police Association spokesperson Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith told Fox News Digital that the drop in murders shows that Americans are rejecting the "defund the police" movement."I really do believe that what we are seeing in 2025 is an absolute rejection of the 'defund the police movement,' the 're-imagining police movement.' The law enforcement profession always has room for reform. There is always room for change, but this whole cloth 'let's eliminate the police by defunding them' didn't work. People died because of it, and now the American public is wholeheartedly rejecting it," Smith said. "And the American law enforcement officer sees that."Smith said it shouldn't be a shock that "more police work equals less crime.""Obviously, this is something that we have been talking about for the last five years. And we have, you know, we have been trying to explain to the American public that you do need law enforcement, and when you need law enforcement, law enforcement needs resources. And finally, I think the public, the politicians, the media are catching up with that idea," she said.
Indianapolis Star
20-06-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Indianapolis crime: A year over year look at homicide data and how we're doing in 2025
The first half of the year has brought a noticeable trend of several child deaths among homicide numbers, including a 14-year-old found shot dead in the snow, a 2-year-old left alone and neglected inside an apartment, and a 5-year-old choked to death with her father charged in her killing. Each year has its own set of trends, but overall, violence involving guns has remained a constant cause of homicides for the city. According to IndyStar and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police data, however, in the first six months of 2025, there has been a significant dip in year-to-date deaths compared to the past five years. 'This should give our community hope, but we can't do it alone," Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Chris Bailey told IndyStar. "We need our community to continue coming alongside us as we work to make Indianapolis a safer place for everyone. The work continues, and we're not letting up.' Summer officially starts on June 20, and while the warm months usually see more violence in the city, killings are down for the first half of the year compared to the same time last year. Indianapolis is not unique in this, as national trends show violent crime has been down in the first half of 2025, according to the Real-Time Crime Index. Major Cities Chiefs Association data shows homicides this year are down from 2024 in the first three months of the year. While statistics show a downward trend, Bailey said it's not a signal for the department to slow down. Brandon Randall, with Power of Tru Colors, who has worked with at-risk youth and young adults for 18 years, agrees. While there have been success stories, he's seen a few of the kids he's worked with die from violence. "Because the homicide numbers are down, there's a lack of urgency," Randall told IndyStar. "There is still a gun access problem with young people and adults. But I think there are more intentional conversations being had on the root causes of violence. It boils down to trauma, mental health, and poverty." IndyStar's data below captures the year-to-date homicides for the first few months over the past five years. In other news: Is there a serial killer in Indianapolis? What police are saying about 4 bodies found There were 15 homicides in January. Most are shooting deaths, but one woman died from asphyxia after being beaten with a hammer, and a toddler died from exposure due to being neglected. There were 11 homicides in February. Most are shooting deaths, except one woman died from blunt force trauma after being beaten to death. There was also one officer-involved shooting death that occurred. There were 14 homicides in March. Most were shooting deaths, except for one man who died from a stabbing. Summer program for youth: IMPD accepting applications for its weeklong Teen Academy There were 8 homicides in April, and all of them were shooting deaths. There were 12 homicides in May. Most were shooting deaths, except one victim who was stabbed, another who died after being hit by a vehicle, and 5-year-old Zara Arnold, who died from asphyxia after being choked. As of June 20, 2025, at 8 a.m., there have been two homicides in June, and both were shooting deaths. IndyStar is tracking homicide data for 2025
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
APD police chief speaks about what's driving down crime numbers in the city
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — New numbers compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association show the number of homicides and numerous other violent crimes are down in the city of Aurora. Homicides in the city dropped 36% from 14 to 9 in the first quarter of 2025 compared to last year. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain says when his officers evaluate crime, they look at the three Ps: Policies, process, and people. Newly released report says homicides dropped nearly 60% in Denver in 2025 He says it's not just an enforcement component driving down numbers but also an intervention aspect. 'I think we're in a much better place than we were, and I think we are going in the right trajectory,' said Chamberlain. He said it wasn't surprising to learn of the declining crime rates in his city, but instead rewarding. 'Last year at this time, we had 5,193 people that were victimized by crime,' said Chamberlain. Right now, year-to-date, we have 4,045. That's a difference of 1,148 individuals that weren't victimized. That's what the mission of law enforcement is.' Chamberlain said technology, work from community groups and government approaches like Aurora SAVE, aimed at reducing youth violence, have played a role in the dropping numbers. 'Not just giving them the aspect from law enforcement but also giving them alternatives,' he said. 'Working with other nonprofit organizations that can provide tattoo removal, that can provide gang intervention, that can provide some type of job in the union. They can provide anything again that's not strictly just enforcement.' Aurora has been in the national spotlight after a narrative was picked up by President Donald Trump that crime and gang violence had increased with the arrival of Venezuelan migrants and the presence of Tren de Aragua. Aurora police chief shows 'deplorable' conditions inside troubled, closed apartment complex 'All of those things we constantly address. It's not just a one-time shop where you go in there and say this problem is solved. That's the complexity of working in an incredibly diverse community,' said Chamberlain. 'That's the complexity of working in law enforcement.' He said he is a big believer in statistics and data. 'It validates what we're doing incorrectly and correctly and when you look at evidence-based policing, that's something I was very thankful to bring into APD,' Chamberlain told FOX31. 'Where we looked at different strategies, we looked at opportunities to have impact on crime from a near, mid and far term.' Officers use the hotspot policing approach to first identify a problematic area and focus there instead of over policing. Then they turn to problem-oriented policing using partnerships with the community. 'I'll use Dallas (Street) as a good example of problem-oriented policing,' said Chamberlain. 'We knew there was a problem. We knew there was an issue. We addressed the offenders, but then we had to go beyond that and address issues to that complex related to how it was managed. What was occurring? Then that's when the crime nuisance came and that complex was closed and that's the part that's important.' Officers then focus on a long-term strategy that uses an 'Intervention Prevention' component. where officers identify people with a high propensity to violence and offer alternatives. 'The biggest challenge right now it's going to be a continuous effort. I don't think we can ever let up the gas. It's never a time when you're spiking the football in the end zone,' said Chamberlain. 'There's never a time when you close your locker and say that's it, because it never stops. There's always crime happening, always victimization happening, and it's always a need for law enforcement to respond to those.' Overall crime is down 22.8% in the city. Chamberlain says the department will continue to evaluate its process and policies. One example of one working is the pursuit policy implemented back in February. Aurora police officers now authorized to start, stop pursuits in crime crackdown 'We had about 30 pursuits since that came out in February. Out of those 30 pursuits, we had no major issue with any of them,' he said. 'Almost all of them ended in one or two minutes, which is exactly what you want because the longer a pursuit goes, the higher the risk related to it. Almost every single person had prolific, prolific criminal history, we've gotten multiple guns out of vehicles.' The report showed a slight increase in sexual assault cases. Those crimes increased from 56 to 58. 'It's really a complex thing because we want to make sure people are victims of it first feel they can report it. A lot of times those incidents occur behind closed doors and happen in domestic situations. They also occur with dates. That's what I want to make sure with our community at all times we want them to know we want to hear that information,' said Chamberlain. 'I hope that's part of the reason why the numbers have gone up because we've reached out to some of our communities that may have not come forward based upon their status, based upon where they are from.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Homicide rates continue dropping in Denver
Preliminary data shows homicides in Denver and Aurora fell in the first three months of 2025, as overall violent crime continued its post-pandemic drop in the nation's largest cities. The big picture: Homicides in Denver fell by 58% — significantly higher than the rate of the largest cities in the country, which dropped 21%, per stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). Why it matters: The numbers indicate that the COVID-era crime wave has largely faded — even as some officials, including President Trump, falsely claim immigrants are driving increased crime rates. Between the lines: This year's drop continues a yearslong trend of declining homicide rates in Denver. State of play: Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and police chief Ron Thomas spoke about the dip in violent crime rates during a community event last month. "The data is heading in the right direction," Johnston said at the event, something he credited to "thoughtful" engagement and partnering with the community. What they're saying:"What I'm most proud of is the fact that we've been able to make these significant strides in public safety without having to over-police communities," Thomas said. Zoom in: Violent crime, especially homicides, spiked during the final year of Trump's first term and Joe Biden's first two years as president. Since then, rates have dropped dramatically, an Axios review of MCCA data shows. Nationwide, violent crime — robberies, rapes and aggravated assaults — decreased by an average of 14% in the first quarter of this year, reports from police departments in 68 cities indicate. The intrigue: Aurora, which Trump singled out, falsely claiming it's overrun by Venezuelan gangs, saw a 36% decline in homicide in early 2025. That followed a 5% drop in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the MCCA. Trump repeatedly claimed during the 2024 campaign that migrants from Latin America, Africa and the Middle East were driving big jumps in violent crimes. Caveat: The data didn't include New York City, the nation's largest city, which didn't submit crime numbers.
Axios
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Homicides in big cities kept declining in Q1 of 2025, stats show
Preliminary data show homicides in the nation's largest cities fell by 21% in the first three months of 2025 from the same period of last year, as overall violent crime continued its post-pandemic drop. Why it matters: Stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) indicate that the COVID-era crime wave has almost faded away — even as some officials, including President Trump, falsely claim that immigrants are driving increased crime rates. The big picture: Violent crime, especially homicides, spiked during the final year of Trump's first term and during Joe Biden's first two years as president. Since then, they've been dropping dramatically, an Axios review of MCCA data shows. Overall, violent crimes — robberies, rapes and aggravated assaults — decreased by an average of 14% in the first quarter of this year, reports from police departments in 68 cities indicate. Many cities have had significant drops in homicides so far this year. Dallas has seen a 44% decline. Denver (58%), Honolulu (82%), Minneapolis (54%) and Philadelphia (28%) were among the cities showing notable drops. The data didn't include New York City, the nation's largest city, which didn't submit crime numbers. New York releases crime stats on its own website, where it reported a 34% drop in homicides in the first quarter of 2025. The intrigue: Aurora, Colo., a Denver suburb that Trump singled out as being overrun by Venezuelan gangs, saw a 36% decline in homicide in early 2025. That followed a 5% drop in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the MCCA. Trump repeatedly claimed during the 2024 campaign that migrants from Latin America, Africa and the Middle East were driving big jumps in violent crimes. Reality check: Study after study has indicated that immigrants — those in the U.S. legally, and those who aren't — commit crimes at lower rates than U.S. citizens. A report in December found that the homicide surge of 2020 was primarily driven by men and teen boys who were laid off or saw their schools close during pandemic shutdowns. Another study of 15 cities by the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF), a group that defends officers facing prosecution, says "repolicing" and stepped up arrests help drive down homicides. Yes, but: A few cities did have large jumps in homicides in the first three months of 2025, the MCCA data show.
