CHICAGO (WLS) — The yr 2024 marked the primary time in 5 years town of Chicago noticed fewer than 600 murders.
Nonetheless, 573 individuals within the metropolis have been murdered, in keeping with information launched by police Tuesday.
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Metropolis leaders hope to decrease the numbers much more this yr.
Chicago wrapped up 2024 in dreary vogue, however, when it got here to crime, there have been some, comparatively talking, shiny spots.
The Chicago police superintendent referred to as it a yr of progress, particularly with shootings and homicides each down.
“Proper now, we recorded the bottom variety of homicides that we have seen since 2019. We have seen the 7% discount in shootings, and a 4% discount in taking pictures victims in comparison with the yr of 2023,” Larry Snelling mentioned.
The superintendent additionally famous that robberies, which embrace carjackings, have dropped 25% since final Could, when he shaped a particular job drive to deal with the issue.
A part of that discount he attributed to having an extra police helicopter to help officers on the bottom.
The Democratic Nationwide Conference is taken into account one other victory.
SEE MORE: Chicago police, Mayor Johnson talk about 2024, New Yr’s Eve security efforts
“A serious second, not simply this yr, however in CPD historical past, was securing the 2024 Democratic Nationwide Conference, whereas not dropping give attention to preserving neighborhoods throughout your complete metropolis protected,” Snelling mentioned.
The mayor was happy with seeing violent crime go down in his first full yr in workplace.
“Whereas this yr’s work proves progress, we all know there may be nonetheless extra work to be achieved. We are going to construct on these efforts and double down on the work that we have achieved in 2024,” Mayor Brandon Johnson mentioned.
However Black communities proceed to really feel the brunt of the violent crime, in keeping with the College of Chicago Crime Lab.
“Black Chicagoans are 20 occasions extra probably than their white counterparts to be killed by a gun or to be a sufferer of a murder. So, we regularly hear in Chicago, it is a story of two cities, and we undoubtedly see that within the information,” mentioned Kim Smith, with the College of Chicago Crime Lab.
Some violence prevention teams imagine their work on the bottom helps make a distinction.
“All of us wish to scale back the violence. All of us wish to see our contributors go someplace, and understand that the streets shouldn’t be your solely possibility,” mentioned Nekenya Hardy, with the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago.
The superintendent is wanting again to look forward.
“If we checked out one thing that did not work fairly so properly, we’re a option to do these issues higher. These issues that we have achieved they usually’ve labored out properly, we’re a means to enhance upon these issues after which construct on them,” Snelling mentioned.
The underside line for police is that whereas they did see progress in 2024, the objective for this new yr is to make Chicago even safer.
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