"The numbers might come as a surprise to those who visit the LAPD's website. Since switching to a new federal reporting system, the department includes more than just violent killings in its count. Department officials said the website data now include some traffic deaths that weren't counted under the old reporting system, such as suspected cases of vehicular manslaughter or crashes in which the driver was found to have been drunk or otherwise criminally negligent."
"LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the reduction in homicides is "not the result of any single action, but the collective work of our first responders and follow-up investigators, our community partners, and the residents who continue to step forward and engage with us." Experts have long cautioned against putting too much stock in year-to-year crime statistics, which can fluctuate based on complex, intertwined factors - including how authorities classify and count certain offenses."
Preliminary LAPD numbers show 230 homicides in Los Angeles through Dec. 31, 2025, about a 19% decline from 2024. If confirmed, the total would be the fewest killings since 1966 and, on a per-capita basis, the safest year since 1959. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell credited the decline to coordinated work by first responders, investigators, community partners, and engaged residents. A shift to a federal reporting system led the department's website to include certain traffic deaths and suspected vehicular homicides, raising the website total to 313 and prompting concern about comparability. Experts warn year-to-year crime totals can vary with classification and counting methods.
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