With an 18% decrease in murder at the halfway point of 2017 leading the way, Brooklyn crimes continued to drop in nearly all felony crime categories, according to the latest New York City Police Department statistics.
There were 50 murders thus far in 2017 as compared to 61 at the halfway mark of 2016, with the Brooklyn North police sector including traditionally high violent crime areas leading the way. For example, the 75th Precinct, which covers East New York and Cypress Hills has reported five murders thus far in 2017 year as compared to 15 at the halfway point of 2016.
Conversely, the 67th Precinct covering East Flatbush as part of police sector Brooklyn South has the most reported murders in Brooklyn with 10 at the halfway point of 2017 as compared to seven at this time in 2016.
Also down boroughwide are both shooting incidents and shooting victims. There were 32 fewer shooting incidents compared to this time last year (a total of 136, down 19.2%) and 48 fewer shooting victims (a total of 155, down 23.7%).
In addition, the Total Index Crime in Brooklyn representing the seven major felony crime categories of murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and auto theft, is down 4.5% for the year. This includes declines in all the categories except for rape, which is up less than one percent for the year.
Overall crime is up in Brooklyn subways with Brooklyn South reporting nearly a 37 percent rise in reported transit crime incidents with 138 incidents reported this year as compared to 101 at this time in 2016. Brooklyn North, however, is up a negligible two percent with 145 reported subway crimes in the first six months of 2017 as compared to 142 at this time last year.
Public housing has also seen a steep decline in crime so far this year. In Brooklyn South there have been 223 incidents of crime reported in public housing so far in 2017 as compared to 257 incidents last year for a 13 percent decrease. Brooklyn North is flat with 599 reported incidents so far this year and 600 reported at this point in 2016.
“I am very proud that crime has continued to plummet so rapidly in Brooklyn, a trend that shows that the targeted approach employed by the NYPD and my Office in fighting violent crime is working,” said Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
“It is also proof that we can implement criminal justice reforms while still enhancing public safety. We have launched innovative new programs to reduce reliance on bail, to protect immigrants and to divert low-level offenders from incarceration as we continue to drive down violence and improve the quality of life in all parts of Brooklyn,” he added.
Gonzalez said in the past few years, the DA’s office has increased its focus on the drivers of crime – individuals responsible for most of the shootings – and has partnered with the NYPD on a number of initiatives to reduce violent crime. Those include the work of the Crime Strategies Unit that keeps track of known gang members and other drivers of violence.
