CHICAGO (WLS) — 2024 was the first time in five years that Chicago had fewer than 600 homicides.
However, 573 people were killed in the city, according to data released by police on Tuesday.
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City leaders hope to bring the numbers down even further this year.
Chicago wrapped up 2024 in dismal fashion, but when it comes to offense, there were some relative bright spots.
A Chicago police superintendent called it a year of progress, especially with a decline in shootings and homicides.
“Right now, we have the lowest number of homicides we've seen since 2019. We've seen a 7% decrease in shooting incidents and a 4% decrease in shooting victims compared to 2023,” Larry Snelling said.
The superintendent also noted that burglaries, which include car thefts, have decreased by 25 percent since last May, when he formed a special task force to address the problem.
He attributed part of this reduction to the presence of an additional police helicopter to assist officers on the ground.
The Democratic National Convention is considered another victory.
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“The big moment, not just this year, but in the history of the CP, was securing the 2024 Democratic National Convention, while not losing focus on keeping neighborhoods safe throughout the entire city,” Snelling said.
The mayor was happy to see violent crime decrease in his first full year in office.
“While this year's work has proven progress, we know there is still more work to do. We will build on these efforts and double the work we've accomplished in 2024,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
But black communities still feel the brunt of violent crime, according to the University of Chicago Crime Lab.
“Black Chicagoans are 20 times more likely than their white counterparts to be killed with a gun or to be the victim of a homicide. So, we often hear in Chicago, it's a tale of two cities, and we certainly see that in the data,” said Kim Smith of the University of Chicago Crime Lab.
Some violence prevention groups believe their work on the ground is helping to make a difference.
“We all want to reduce violence,” said Nikenia Hardy of the Chicago Nonviolence Institute. “We all want to see participants go somewhere and realize that the streets are not your only option.”
The supervisor looks back to look forward.
“If we look at something that didn't work well, we look for a way to do those things better. Those things that we've done that have worked well, we look for a way to improve those things and then build on them,” Snelling said.
The bottom line for police is that although they have seen progress in 2024, the goal for this new year is to make Chicago safer.
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