A recent nationwide survey conducted by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, a collaborative group of influential police leaders from some of the largest U.S. cities, indicates a significant decrease in violent crime rates. The comprehensive report reveals a general reduction in homicides by more than 20% so far in 2025, compared to the previous year.
The findings also show an overall decline in violent crime. When compared year over year with 2024, the current records propose an impressive average decline of approximately 20%. The study provided positive signals that the violent crime rate across numerous major cities is following a downward trend.
A striking decline in homicide cases was also noted in cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle. The statistics reveal a hefty decrease of 37% in Chicago, a substantial drop of 35% within San Francisco, and an extraordinary decrease of approximately 46% in Seattle’s homicide reports.
As for Rochester, city authorities confirm that violent crime has reflected a similar decreasing trend. Malik Evans, Mayor of Rochester, delivered a review of the 2024 violent crime figures earlier this year, confirming that acts of criminal violence have indeed diminished in the city.
Diving deeper into the crime statistics, Mayor Evans noted a significant decline of 53% in shooting incidents over the past three years. His report emphasized a downward trajectory of violent crime, marking a clear and positive shift in the city’s safety landscape.
In his review, Mayor Evans also drew attention to the decrease in total homicides. Including both gun-related and other forms of homicide, there has been a substantial reduction of 45% since an unsettling surge in 2021. He contends, however, that there is still much to be done.
Despite the considerable reductions in crime rates, Evans maintained that the prevalent issue of gun violence in Rochester remains an area of keen concern. Despite the downward statistics, that trend, he maintains, is still far from satisfactory.
The Mayor expressed gratitude for the progress made so far in combating crime, but he stressed his resolve to not rest on these improvements. ‘I am indeed thankful for the progress, but we are not content’, he stated. REsponding to queries asking if the city could relax its heightened state of vigilance, he vehemently rejected the suggestion.
Evans echoed the sentiment that the narrative must continue to stress the gravity and unacceptability of any form of gun violence. The emphasis on this stance reinforces his commitment to counter any complacency that may arise from the encouraging crime statistics.
Turning to police data, Rochester’s Police Department (RPD) has made noteworthy observations via their Open Data Portal. The detailed data reveals that around 73 shootings have been officially reported within the city’s limits this year.
Of these reported incidents, seven shootings had more than one victim, increasing the total victim count to 80 from January to June 2025. These figures offer a visual and quantifiable representation of the impact such incidents have on the community as a whole.
According to comparative data, these numbers, while still tragically high, represent a 24% decrease in relation to the same time period in the previous year. Echoing Mayor Evans’ sentiments, however, these figures, while showing a downward trend, highlight a continued issue of gun violence that the city is keen to address.
In summary, while violent crime rates have seen a nationwide decrease, it is critical to remember that the fight against crime and violence is far from over, and further strides need to be made to ensure continued safety and security for everyone.