Oakland's homicide rate in 2025 was lowest in nearly 6 decades

"OAKLAND - Oakland recorded its fewest homicides in nearly six decades last year, a striking turnaround that came despite historic lows in the number of police officers on the force. The number of killings investigated last year fell to 67, with 57 of those categorized as murders - excluding cases such as justifiable homicides - a total not seen since 1967, according to data compiled by this news organization."

"Overall violent crime - homicides, injury shootings, aggravated assaults, rape and robberies - was down 25% from 2024, Interim Police Chief Jim Beere said at a Wednesday news conference. Robberies declined by 43%, burglaries by 16% and vehicle thefts by 40% through Dec. 28, compared to the same period the previous year, according to Oakland Police Department data. The numbers mark a sharp reversal from a spike in violence during the worst years of the COVID-19 pandemic."

"On Wednesday, Mayor Barbara Lee and police leaders credited the city's violence intervention program, as well as surveillance technology and help from the California Highway Patrol, with driving much of the decline. "That is still 67 too many," Lee said, referring to last year's total homicide count. "Behind that number, though, lives are saved - families who didn't get the worst phone call of their lives, young people who are still with us." Lee took office in May after voters removed former Mayor Sheng Thao in the November 2024 election. The recall effort against Thao began in earnest after a devastating surge of pandemic-era violence that culminated with 125 investigated homicides in 2023."

Oakland recorded its fewest homicides in nearly six decades last year, with 67 killings investigated and 57 categorized as murders, a count not seen since 1967. Overall violent crime — homicides, injury shootings, aggravated assaults, rape and robberies — fell 25% from 2024. Robberies declined 43%, burglaries 16% and vehicle thefts 40% through Dec. 28 compared with the prior year. City leaders credited a violence intervention program, surveillance technology and assistance from the California Highway Patrol for much of the decline. Operation Ceasefire targets roughly 240–350 individuals with job training and warnings after a 2023 spike of 125 investigated homicides.

Read at The Mercury News