DMV crime drops 13% as region launches first-ever tracker
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Police are joining forces across the region. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Overall crime is down in the DMV by 13% this year over last, per a first-of-its-kind regional dashboard launched last week.
Why it matters: The new crime tracker is the first unified, real-time database for greater Washington and aims to give leaders and residents timely, actionable reports to create safer communities.
Driving the news: Crime dropped in every major category, from homicide to vehicle theft, across the DMV in the first four months of 2025, compared to the same stretch last year.
- Created by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), the public dashboard aggregates and displays crime data from 24 local jurisdictions in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
By the numbers: From January through April this year, compared to 2024:
- Robbery ⬇️ 32%
- Homicide ⬇️ 30%
- Rape ⬇️ 23%
- Aggravated assault ⬇️ 21%
The big picture: Until now, regional crime data lagged behind reality — usually released once a year, nine months in. That delay hampered law enforcement's ability to detect trends and mount timely responses across jurisdictional lines.
- The new tracker updates as frequently as daily, depending on the jurisdiction, and also includes historical crime data going back to 2002.
What they're saying: "Criminals don't just stick to one area, and purposely cross lines in hopes investigators aren't sharing information," Eli Russ, COG public safety planner, tells Axios.
- "Now, with this high level of collaboration, agencies experiencing a short-term crime spike can go into the dashboard, see it's impacting others, and determine shared strategies."
What's next: More localities are joining the database, which is already comprehensive, spanning major counties (500,000+ residents) like Montgomery, Fairfax and Prince George's, to smaller towns (-50,000 residents) like Fairfax or Takoma Park.
The bottom line: With police departments stretched thin, Russ says the database arrives at a crucial moment.
- "Everyone has a slice of the public safety pie, but it's up to the different jurisdictions to come to the table."