Philadelphia's homicide rate keeps falling, new data shows
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Philadelphia saw one of the steepest declines in homicides among major U.S. cities in the first nine months of this year, per an Axios analysis of new data.
Why it matters: The city is on pace to have fewer than 300 homicides for the first year in nearly a decade.
The big picture: Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) recently released numbers from 69 law enforcement agencies showing an 18% drop in homicides from the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
- Philadelphia is among the few cities that saw a more than 40% fall in homicides during that period, along with Boston, San Francisco and Jacksonville, Florida, according to an Axios analysis of the data.
Catch up quick: Police are using a data-driven "pinpoint" strategy in Philly that deploys more officers to 10 crime hotspots — areas that accounted for more than three-quarters of the city's shootings in 2023.
- Meanwhile, Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration has prioritized addressing crime and quality-of-life issues in Kensington, but officials have acknowledged the crime drops predate some of those initiatives.
What they're saying: Police commissioner Kevin Bethel tells Axios the drop in homicides is due to several factors, including reversing the defunding of the police.
- "The challenge is sustainability and to be able to continue this momentum," he said. "One year is not going to make people forget three years ago."
By the numbers: With a little over a month before the end of the year, violent crime is down about 8% in Philadelphia compared to this time in 2023, including more than 37% drops in robberies and overall shooting victims, per city data.
- Philly has recorded 227 homicides as of Monday, compared to 410 this time in 2023.
- December is historically one of the city's least violent months, per an Axios analysis of police data back to 2015.
Caveat: At least 28 cases are awaiting a homicide determination from the medical examiner, Philadelphia police chief inspector Christopher Werner tells Axios.
- Philadelphia doesn't include all deaths in its homicide tally, such as justifiable killings (four this year) and suicides, Werner says.
What we're watching: President-elect Trump has said he would tie federal grants to local police departments on a requirement that they participate in his mass deportation plans.