So far, Columbus' violent crime is declining in 2024
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Columbus saw the sharpest drop in violent crime of any major U.S. city during the first half of this year, new preliminary data shows.
Why it matters: The 41% decrease is further evidence that our city's pandemic-era crime wave is behind us.
The big picture: Violent crime — defined as homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — dropped in 54 of 69 major cities during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year, per an Axios analysis of Major Cities Chiefs Association data.
- Overall, the average drop among all cities was 6%.
- Omaha, Nebraska, was second after Columbus, with a 30% decrease. Miami and Washington, D.C., weren't far behind at 29%.
Zoom in: In Columbus, all four violent crime categories experienced double-digit percentage declines, when compared to last year.
Yes, but: Looking back further, the city's 55 homicides reported in the first half of 2024 is the same number reported in 2019.
- Rape (380 cases) actually increased by about 2% between 2019 and 2024.
- Meanwhile, robbery (261) and aggravated assault (511) are at their lowest figures in the six years of data.
Context: Columbus' overall violent crime peaked in 2021, with over 200 homicides recorded that year for the first and only time in local history.
- The city's population has grown by about 1% from 2019-2024, per census data.
What they're saying: Columbus Division of Police spokesperson Jennifer Watson tells Axios that improved community relations and more proactive patrols, such as an initiative called Operation Unity, are among the efforts helping to make the city safer.
- "We look forward to continuing our work to build on this progress," she said in an email.