Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Murder Rate On Pace For Double-Digit Increase This Year
By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 13, 2010
Modified Nov 13, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 13, 2010
Modified Nov 13, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The city is currently on track for a double-digit increase in the murder rate this year, according to the latest crime statistics. Homicides totaled 464 through Thursday, up 16 percent from the 400 reported at this time last year, and only seven less than the total from 2009. Even so, the statistics aren't worrying NYPD officials, perhaps because of their notorious reliability. "Things have generally been going in the right direction," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
Even if the current murder pace holds, the city is looking at the third lowest number of murders since reliable record-keeping began in 1962. Last year, there were 471 murders, the lowest number of murders on record. Andrew Karmen, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, noted that "This is not the first year there's been a spike or some backsliding. One bad year does not make a trend."
Officials can also point to other positives, such as the fact that police-involved shootings hit a record low last year. And they can blame recent budget cuts for reducing the overall size of the force, from a high of more than 40,000 in 2002 to roughly 34,800 officers. All this aside, crime statistics have been shown to be quite malleable in recent years, as revealed by the accusations made by former NYPD Officer Adrian Scholcraft.
Tagged
Adrian Schoolcraft
crime
crime rate
murder rate
nypd
police
Ray Kelly
statistics
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Plainclothes ICE agent with long gun looked like mass shooter, Mayor Mamdani says
The mayor said his administration would review ICE and NYPD actions surrounding Thursday’s shooting.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 11, 2026 at 1:49 p.m. ET
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
By
Mike Hayes
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .