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Murders, Shootings Down in NYC While Other Cities See Spikes, NYPD Says

 Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a press conference on crime numbers at One Police Plaza on Thursday, June 2, 2016.
Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a press conference on crime numbers at One Police Plaza on Thursday, June 2, 2016.
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DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg

CIVIC CENTER — As the homicide rate has jumped in several major American cities, violent crime continues to decline in New York, city officials said Thursday.

“We are the safest big city in America,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio during a press conference at NYPD headquarters. “We are proving it regularly.”

There have been 19 fewer murders and 96 fewer shootings — a 14 percent and 22 percent decline respectively — in the city this year compared to the same period in 2015, according to the NYPD. Major crime was also down 6 percent in May, with drops in categories including homicides, shootings, robberies and felony assaults.

However, there was a 16 percent increase in rapes reported last month, with 20 more incidents compared with 2015, police said. Grand larcenies were also up slightly by one percent.

The NYPD credited recent gang takedowns, which have led to about 350 arrests, and nearly 1,550 gun seizures with for the overall decline in major crimes this year.

Officials said there were 21 more gang takedowns planned for June. 

De Blasio also credited “precision policing,” with improvements in new technologies like Shot Spotter and better training for officers.

RELATED: Here's How the NYPD's Expanding ShotSpotter System Works

The declines come while both the department and City Hall are mired in several corruption investigations.

Two additional officers under federal probe filed for retirement recently.

De Blasio said the officers “have a right” to retire, but that it in no way “undermines our disciplinary efforts."

"There’s been a vigorous investigation that obviously yielded some real problems,” the mayor added. “Those individuals are already feeling the consequences and I wouldn't be surprised if they feel a lot more.”