NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Despite a year-over-year increase in crime, the NYPD reports that progress continues to be made.
According to the latest crime figures released by the department on Thursday, New York City saw more than a 22% rise in crime between 2021 and 2022, though its overall crime index fell for the second straight month by more than 11% when compared to December 2021.
Five of the seven major index-crime categories decreased in New York City in December: murder declined by 26.1%, grand larceny by 25.9%, rape by 11.5%, burglary by 10.2% and robbery by 8.3%.
Murders are now at their lowest level since 2019, down more than 11% from December 2021. Shootings declined by 29.2% in December 2022 compared to December 2021, while shooting incidents decreased by 17.2% in 2022 compared to 2021, with double-digit declines in every borough.
"We knew we would not turn this city around on a dime," NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a press conference Thursday. "We did not stumble in the decreases; they were not happenstance. We strategized, planned, deployed, re-calibrated when necessary, conducted investigations and relentlessly followed up."
In addition to removing over 7,000 guns from city streets in 2022 and a 20% increase in total citywide arrests last month compared to December 2021, the NYPD cited Neighborhood Safety Teams and the NYPD's Business District Deployment Team — as well as a stronger focus on community engagement in 2022 — as contributions to the city's safety and quality of life.
Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday that it was unfair to only hold members of the NYPD accountable for public safety when they couldn't do it alone.
"Whenever we talked about public protection," Adams said. "We only talked about the NYPD. That was unfair. It was not right, and we have other law enforcement entities that are now playing a major role as we tackle public protection."
Sewell said in a statement Thursday that as the new year begins, "the NYPD is confident about the future of our department, our city, and all the people we serve."
"Our team is in place, and we are stepping forward to meet and overcome any challenges we may face in 2023 and beyond," she added.
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