Shooting incidents fell to historic lows in 2025. The mayor inherited good numbers — and complex challenges — on day one
The Numbers Are Historic. The Context Is Complicated.
When Mayor Zohran Mamdani stood at One Police Plaza on January 6, 2026, alongside Governor Kathy Hochul and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the data he had inherited was, by any measure, remarkable. New York City recorded 688 shooting incidents in 2025, shattering the previous record low of 754 set in 2018 by more than ten percent. In December alone, shootings fell to just 35 incidents citywide — the lowest number ever recorded in any single month in the city’s history. Murder declined 20.2 percent citywide compared to 2024, with 77 fewer homicides. Robberies were down nearly ten percent. The subway was at its safest since 2009 outside of pandemic years. Overall major crime fell three percent to 121,542 incidents. “Last year, New York City had its safest year for gun violence ever,” Mamdani said at the press conference. “This achievement is a testament to the leadership of Police Commissioner Tisch, the dedication of the NYPD, and the tireless work of community-based organizations that help keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Beneath the Headlines
But the same data that produced the victory lap also contained evidence of persistent and troubling trends. According to a detailed analysis by Vital City NYC, felony assaults increased for the sixth consecutive year in 2025, reaching a level not seen since 1997. While murders and shootings are at record lows, the city’s overall major crime rate remains substantially higher than its 2019 pre-pandemic baseline. The city’s recovery has been slower than that of many peer cities. Hate crimes were down 12 percent overall, but antisemitic incidents still accounted for 57 percent of all hate crimes reported — a figure Tisch called the city’s “most persistent hate threat.” Rapes were up 16 percent, a figure the NYPD attributed primarily to a September 2024 state law that broadened the legal definition of rape to include additional forms of sexual assault.
Mamdani’s Policing Philosophy
Mamdani came to office with a public safety philosophy that differs significantly from those of his predecessors. He has spoken about the importance of community-based violence prevention, civilian interventions, and a proposed Department of Community Safety that would handle mental health crises and community outreach independent of the NYPD. He has also, notably, retained Jessica Tisch as Police Commissioner — a choice that drew pushback from police reform advocates but that Mamdani has defended as prioritizing results over ideology. “My police commissioner, just like my school’s chancellor, will report directly to me,” Mamdani has said, making clear that he considers himself the ultimate authority on public safety decisions. The tension between the mayor’s stated philosophy and the continuation of policies like the criminal summons campaign against cyclists reflects an administration that is still negotiating the gap between campaign vision and the operational reality of running the NYPD. NYPD crime statistics are updated monthly and publicly available. The independent research organization The City has published a comprehensive analysis of 2025 crime trends that provides important context beyond the headline numbers.
