Mayor Bowser, MPD Chief Smith tout end-of-year data showing crime down in DC
WASHINGTON - While it may not feel like it, data shows that the crime rates in D.C. are trending in the right direction. That’s according to the mayor and police chief, who shared the city's end-of-year crime stats Monday.
Crime victims will tell you the numbers may be down but violent and property crimes are still impacting the quality of life for many people here in the nation's capital.
According to D.C. Police, overall crime in the city is down — 13 percent lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Violent crime in D.C. is down 35 percent and homicides are down 29 percent, from 255 at this point last year to 182 as of today. Robberies and carjackings are also down.
In terms of property crimes, D.C. police say burglaries, vehicle thefts and thefts from autos are all down this year compared to last.
"Even if one resident feels unsafe in our community there's still more work for us to do," Chief Smith said.
The chief joined Mayor Muriel Bowser and other top public safety officials to tout programs and initiatives that are helping to drive down crime like the city's Real-Time Crime Center and expanding CCTV program and efforts to keep violent offenders in jail while their cases proceed through the criminal justice system.
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"I know that people being held now and who are going to trial are the ones who were using guns in our community. They're not in the community and the gun crime is going down. We have work to do. I know that the people who were carjacking our residents are being held when they weren't before and guess what? Carjackings are down almost 50 percent," Mayor Bowser said.
Officials say arrests of juvenile suspects are up 5 percent but for the loved ones of those killed by violent young people, not enough is being done.
"It's just been a roller coaster ride that I'll never get off of and a nightmare that I'll never wake up from," said Tyler Nix, whose partner Bryan Smith died after being attacked and robbed by 14 and 16-year-olds, according to police.
"I mean, it's sad that our children have to be incarcerated but it's also sad the danger that they pose to the community and the things that they do to people," Nadia Israel said. Her brother, 64-year-old Reggie Brown, was brutally beaten to death by a group of five teenage girls last year.
Mayor Bowser was asked if the city's programs are really the driving factor when violent crime is down nationwide.
"When crime goes up, blame the Mayor. When crime goes down, certainly the things that we put in place couldn't have anything to do with that," Bowser said. "What people are telling us is 'thank you for being focused on accountability' and 'keep up the work.' We still have work to do."
The mayor says in the coming year, D.C. will have more cameras, hopefully, more police officers and new legislation, all designed to keep the crime rate heading south.