NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Violent crimes in New York City dropped during the month of June, but officials noted on Tuesday that there is still more work to be done.
During his daily press conference on Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city’s month crime statistics are starting to turn around thanks to the efforts of community policing and the economy’s recovery.
“We have a long way to go, but we saw some real progress, we saw some change in the month of June,” he said.
During the month of June, murders fell by 23% when compared to June 2020. Meanwhile, shootings also dropped by 20% and burglaries had fallen by nearly 50%.
Additionally, the NYPD notes that the department made 361-gun arrests during the month of June, which equated to a 99.4% increase compared to June 2020.
NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea credits the uptick in gun arrests and some recent gang takedowns for the drop in crime.
“In the last sixty days, seven critical cases have come down.
Those seven cases resulted in 94 individuals – and these are the worst of the worst – off the street,” Shea said.
He stressed that the NYPD is coming down hard on illegal guns on New York City streets, and the uptick in arrests should serve as a warning.
“The message is simple: Anyone that is carrying an illegal firearm in New York City has to have consequences and should be taken off the street,” the commissioner said.
Still, this year's numbers are well above numbers from 2019, before the pandemic.
“I'm not happy with that current level, but it is progress and that's what's important here,” said Shea.
The overall crime index in New York City rose by 3.1% as compared to June 2020, mostly driven by a 32.3% increase in grand larceny incidents, a 31.2% increase in auto thefts and a 16% increase in robberies.
“Keeping all New Yorkers safe is what drives us, and your police officers are working with community members around the clock to do just that,” Commissioner Shea said in a statement. “Through targeted deployment and collaborative efforts with those we serve, the department continues in its mission to stamp out criminal activity and hold those who commit acts of violence to account.”
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