CIVIC CENTER — Major crime continued its historic decline in the city this summer, the NYPD announced Tuesday.
There were 1,610 fewer crimes including murder, rape and felony assault for June, July and August this year compared to the same period in 2015, police said. The reduction marked the lowest summer crime number since the department started tracking crimes via CompStat in 1994.
“The people of this city are safer, and it also means our officers are safer,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference at One Police Plaza.
However, homicides have increased slightly during the past three years, though the numbers are still historically low, according to the NYPD.
Dermot Shea, dep commish of operations, says the last 3 yrs were lowest for summer homicides on record. 2014: 92. 2015: 96. 2016: 100
— Trevor Kapp (@tkapp20) September 6, 2016
Shootings were also up in August, 145 this year compared to 122 in 2015, while other major crime categories saw reductions.
There was one less homicide in August than the year before, as well as 10 fewer rapes and 247 fewer robberies during that same time period, the NYPD said.
September has already gotten off to a violent start.
Two people were murdered at the J’Ouvert parade early Monday morning.
Officials had posted more police at the festival, which has been historically marred by violence.
Despite the shootings, de Blasio said J’Ouvert would continue.
“It’s very important to the community,” the mayor said. “About a quarter of a million people came.”
The crime briefing was the last for Commissioner Bill Bratton, who is retiring to join the private sector.
“1994, when I first became commissioner, was at that time the safest summer that the department had experienced in modern times," Bratton said at the press conference. "As I’m leaving the stage…the summer of 2016 was the safest in the last 20-some-odd years. I’m leaving as I began.”
