WASHINGTON — We are halfway through the year and the latest police data shows that crime is down 17% in D.C. compared to the same time last year.
According to the District's crime database, as of July 1, violent crime is down 29%. So far, there have been 91 homicides, compared to 119 during the same period. Last year 274 people were killed in the District, marking the deadliest year in more than two decades.
Police data shows that property crime, which includes car theft and burglaries, is also down 15% compared to 2023.
The only category that shows an increase is sexual abuse with 92 cases this year compared to last year's 87.
Last week Mayor Muriel Bowser touted the decrease in crime during a news conference announcing a new drone program.
"Here's where we are, better than last year, but we recognize there is more to do across all parts of our city," Bowser said.
Bowser did point out the significant drop in carjackings. Police data shows that during the first six months of 2024, there have been 245 carjackings compared to 458 during the same period last year.
A closer look into the DC Police carjacking dashboard shows that the majority of people arrested this year in the District have been 17 or younger. There have been 73 carjacking arrests and 46 of them have been juveniles according to police data. Eighty-nine percent of the people arrested for carjacking have reportedly been D.C. residents.
Native Washingtonian Brittany King says that despite the drop in crime she does not feel safe in the District, particularly when it comes to youth.
"I don't understand how these kids get a hold of firearms," she told WUSA9.
King says she's been forced to have difficult conversations with her son Zion Johnson who lost his father to gun violence in 2022.
"She wants us to not be outside around all this bad behavior," Johnson said.
Leonardo Brito says the drop in crime is noticeable and it's changed how he feels.
"The fact that I just feel a lot, for some reason, I don't know why, but I feel a lot safer and less paranoid just being around the city feels great," he said.
Mayor Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith have been hesitant to pinpoint one thing that is making a difference to curb crime. Both have said it is a combination of initiatives that are helping address the hot-button issue.
Both Bowser and Smith have pointed at the massive Secure DC crime bill as well as the Real-Time Crime Center for the strides they have made to address the District's crime.
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