Detroit murders fall below 200 for first time in six decades, police chief says

(Detroit News) The city fell under 200 homicides for the first time in six decades in 2025, Police Chief Todd Bettison and other city officials said Wednesday, marking three consecutive years of decline and mirroring a national downward trend.

Detroit recorded 165 criminal homicides last year, the fewest since the city had 125 homicides in 1964 and a 19% decrease from 2024. There were 17 homicides that were deemed justified in 2025, Bettison said.

Nonfatal shootings declined 26% from 607 in 2024 to 447 last year, while carjackings plunged 46% from 142 to 77, a record since the police department began counting in the early 1990s. Violent crime in 2025 dropped 10.2% from the previous year, while property crime fell by 9.7%, according to Detroit Police.

"What we’re doing in Detroit is working,” Bettison said. “(Crime) is going down, down, down. And we will double down in 2026 and continue investing in crime prevention, enforcement, technology — everything.” .....................(more)

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2026/01/07/detroit-murders-fall-below-200-first-time-six-decades-police-chief-says/88051258007/