Baltimore City saw major drops in gun violence, homicides, BPD says
BALTIMORE -- Baltimore City saw major drops in gun violence and homicides for the second-consecutive year, according to the Baltimore Police Department's 2024 year-end crime report.
According to the report, homicides went down 23% in 2024, with a total of 201 compared to 261 homicides in 2023.
Mayor Brandon Scott has also celebrated the reduction - attributing the progress to his Group Violence Reduction Strategy.
"We hear it directly from those residents, that they understand and see that few of people are dying in the city and that we can just continue to do better," Scott said.
Non-fatal shootings dropped by 34%, with a total of 414 compared to 635 in the previous year.
BPD also said the city saw a 74% reduction in teen victims of homicides and non-fatal shootings.
"Creating a safer Baltimore remains our top priority," BPD Police Commissioner Richard Worley said, crediting the department's "intentional and relentless efforts to reduce crime."
Other BPD improvements
Those were not the only improvement markers, according to the department.
The report also states that in 2024 Baltimore Police achieved clearance rates above the national average for major crimes, including homicides (68%), non-fatal shootings (44%), robbery (37%), and aggravated assaults (69%).
The reduction in crime is a result of a variety of enforcement strategies, including the consolidation of district detective units under the Criminal Investigation Division, using specialized units to address new crime trends, and refining the processes for crime calls and statistics. The department also worked to narrow down the drivers for crimes, and identify groups, and geographic hotspots, BPD said.
The department said it hired 160 police officer trainees, and 14 Cadets, by improving its marketing campaigns and streamlining the hiring process. Last year, Worley said the department would be working to improve staffing shortages after a mass shooting in Baltimore's Brooklyn Homes community.
"Never be forgotten"
On January 1, Mothers of Murdered Sons and Daughters read the names of the victims of homicide.
"Being out there, keeping it going every year, lets other mothers know how strong some of us have become, and they can still go on with their lives, and yet their child will never be forgotten," said Daphne Alston, founder of Mothers of Murdered Sons and Daughters.
The organization says is grateful Baltimore City leaders are working to reduce the homicide and violent crime rate, but there are still too many young people losing their lives.
"Teach your children that taking a life is not something that the community will continue to accept," said Cynthia Bruce, of Mothers of Murdered Sons and Daughters.
