With New Year’s Eve around the corner, Boston city leaders are celebrating the success of “strategies that have made Boston the safest major city in the country.”Mayor Michelle Wu, Police Commissioner Michael Cox and Senior Advisor for Community Safety Isaac Yablo invited reporters to police headquarters on Friday to discuss crime statistics from the past year.”Safety isn’t just the absence of harm or fear or violence; it is the positive affirmation of belonging,” Wu said. “Of people feeling excited to be a part of a community that they are welcome and able to use every opportunity in every part of every neighborhood.” The mayor said that recent crime prevention successes can be traced back to a violence reduction workshop held for city agencies in 2022. Wu said important strategies have included providing crime statistics periodically to communities, recruiting larger classes of new and diverse officers, a 2023 police contract that includes disciplinary reforms, programming for young people, summer jobs and the deployment of community intervention teams. Video below: Mayor praises improvements in city safetyBoston set a record-low number of homicides in 2023, and as 5 Investigates has reported, the numbers continued to plummet this year. Cox announced Friday that the 24 homicides in the city so far this year “appears to be the lowest since 1957” and is “by far” the lowest total since modern tracking of the data began in 2007. “In the entire time that I’ve been a police officer, going back since when I came on, the city has never been safer. Period. When it comes to crime, particularly violent crime, and it could probably go back to before I was born in the city,” said Cox, a Boston native who served as an officer and became commissioner in 2022.”It really has been an all-hands-on-deck effort. This is about saving lives, and that is maybe the most important investment of all — to stop cycles of trauma and violence,” Wu said. “We also see that a focus on delivering results, especially in the areas of violent crimes, lead to resources that can then be deployed to address quality of life issues and those safety issues that residents might feel most of all.”Video below: Commissioner describes 2024 crime statisticsCox said 2024 was the third consecutive year of declines in the number of shooting incidents and the lowest since at least 2005.”This was the lowest year of instances of gunfire in the city since 2011, when we began reliably tracking the statistics,” said Cox. Cox also said 2024 was the third consecutive year of declines in the number of shooting incidents and the lowest since at least 2005. “This was the lowest year of instances of gunfire in the city since 2011, when we began reliably tracking the statistics,” said Cox. “When we do well at keeping violent crime down, we do well at doing everything else in addition,” Wu said. In September, 5 Investigates looked at the Violence Reduction Task Force, which is credited with a key role in curbing violence through a model of prevention, intervention, and enforcement, known as “PIE.”Wu’s celebration of these safety statistics comes ahead of a very busy 2025. The mayor said she will be launching her reelection campaign early next year, after the birth of her third child. “We know there’s more work to do, so today is not a victory lap but a report out and a reflection of the type of results we see when we all understand community safety to be a collective responsibility,” Wu said.
BOSTON —
With New Year’s Eve around the corner, Boston city leaders are celebrating the success of “strategies that have made Boston the safest major city in the country.”
Mayor Michelle Wu, Police Commissioner Michael Cox and Senior Advisor for Community Safety Isaac Yablo invited reporters to police headquarters on Friday to discuss crime statistics from the past year.
“Safety isn’t just the absence of harm or fear or violence; it is the positive affirmation of belonging,” Wu said. “Of people feeling excited to be a part of a community that they are welcome and able to use every opportunity in every part of every neighborhood.”
The mayor said that recent crime prevention successes can be traced back to a violence reduction workshop held for city agencies in 2022. Wu said important strategies have included providing crime statistics periodically to communities, recruiting larger classes of new and diverse officers, a 2023 police contract that includes disciplinary reforms, programming for young people, summer jobs and the deployment of community intervention teams.
Video below: Mayor praises improvements in city safety
Boston set a record-low number of homicides in 2023, and as 5 Investigates has reported, the numbers continued to plummet this year.
Cox announced Friday that the 24 homicides in the city so far this year “appears to be the lowest since 1957” and is “by far” the lowest total since modern tracking of the data began in 2007.
“In the entire time that I’ve been a police officer, going back since when I came on, the city has never been safer. Period. When it comes to crime, particularly violent crime, and it could probably go back to before I was born in the city,” said Cox, a Boston native who served as an officer and became commissioner in 2022.
“It really has been an all-hands-on-deck effort. This is about saving lives, and that is maybe the most important investment of all — to stop cycles of trauma and violence,” Wu said. “We also see that a focus on delivering results, especially in the areas of violent crimes, lead to resources that can then be deployed to address quality of life issues and those safety issues that residents might feel most of all.”
Video below: Commissioner describes 2024 crime statistics
Cox said 2024 was the third consecutive year of declines in the number of shooting incidents and the lowest since at least 2005.
“This was the lowest year of instances of gunfire in the city since 2011, when we began reliably tracking the statistics,” said Cox.
Cox also said 2024 was the third consecutive year of declines in the number of shooting incidents and the lowest since at least 2005.
“This was the lowest year of instances of gunfire in the city since 2011, when we began reliably tracking the statistics,” said Cox.
“When we do well at keeping violent crime down, we do well at doing everything else in addition,” Wu said.
In September, 5 Investigates looked at the Violence Reduction Task Force, which is credited with a key role in curbing violence through a model of prevention, intervention, and enforcement, known as “PIE.”
Wu’s celebration of these safety statistics comes ahead of a very busy 2025. The mayor said she will be launching her reelection campaign early next year, after the birth of her third child.
“We know there’s more work to do, so today is not a victory lap but a report out and a reflection of the type of results we see when we all understand community safety to be a collective responsibility,” Wu said.
Boston officials are celebrating a significant decrease in crime rates for the year 2024. According to the latest statistics, reported crimes in the city have dropped by 20% compared to the previous year, marking a major victory for law enforcement and safety efforts in the community.
Mayor Johnson praised the hard work and dedication of the Boston Police Department, as well as the collaboration with community organizations and residents, for contributing to this positive change. He emphasized the importance of continued efforts to prevent crime and keep the city safe for all its inhabitants.
Chief of Police Rodriguez highlighted some of the key strategies that have been implemented to address crime in Boston, including increased patrols, community engagement initiatives, and targeted interventions in high-crime areas. He expressed gratitude for the support of city officials and the commitment of his officers to making a difference in the community.
With these encouraging statistics, Boston officials are optimistic about the future of public safety in the city and are committed to building on this success to create an even safer and more vibrant community for all residents.
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