President Donald Trump has signaled interest in potentially taking control of the New York Police Department (NYPD), echoing a recent move to oversee policing in Washington, DC, due to what he describes as rising crime concerns.
Speaking on August 11, Trump stated, “We are going to look at New York,” but a review of crime statistics over the past quarter-century suggests the NYPD has achieved significant reductions in crime both this year and historically.
In 2000, when Rudy Giuliani was mayor, New York City recorded 673 murders.
By 2024, this number had nearly halved, with 382 murders reported under the administration of current Mayor Eric Adams.
Rape incidents have also seen a decline, decreasing from 2,068 reported cases in the year 2000 to 1,748 in 2024.
Robberies in New York City have plummeted by more than 50% over the last 25 years, dropping from 32,562 incidents in 2000 to 16,580 in 2024.
While felony assaults varied over the years—falling to a low of 20,572 in 2019 before rising again due to the COVID-19 pandemic—it registered 29,461 offenses in 2024, indicating some fluctuations in crime trends.
Burglary has experienced a substantial decline during this period, with offenses decreasing from 38,352 to 13,070 by 2024.
Grand larceny trends have been less consistent, with incidents falling from 49,450 in 2000 to 35,505 in 2021, before increasing again to 48,450 in 2024.
In terms of grand larceny of motor vehicles, there was a significant drop from 35,442 in 2000 to 14,199 in 2024.
Looking ahead to 2025, New York City’s crime rates continue to reflect a downward trend based on the latest NYPD statistics, with Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasizing historic lows.
As of August 10, 2025, the city has documented 188 murders, a reduction of 23% from the same period in 2024.
The number of shooting victims has also decreased, with 530 incidents reported compared to 678 at the same time last year—marking the lowest shooting figures in recorded history for July.
In the same period, robbery has declined by 11%, with 9,076 reported victims, while hate crimes fell over 25% to 331 victims.
Felony assaults have decreased slightly, showing a 1% drop with 17,965 victims in 2025.
Kaz Daughtry, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, stated that New York is currently the safest major city in America, supported by robust data.
The city’s homicide rate stood at 4.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, a stark contrast to Washington, DC’s 27.3 homicide rate, as noted in a report from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Moreover, New York City’s homicide rate remains significantly lower than those in major cities that supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election, such as St. Louis, MO (54.4), and New Orleans, LA (34.7).
“New York City is the safest big city in America, and the numbers prove it,” Daughtry remarked, reflecting on July’s record-low statistics for shootings and crime in the subway system, as long as the extraordinary conditions of the pandemic years are excluded from the assessment.
The NYPD has intensified efforts in recent months, successfully removing over 22,900 illegal firearms from the streets along with over 100,000 illegal vehicles often used in criminal activities.
Daughtry also highlighted a perceptible positive shift in the atmosphere of New York, noting that residents and visitors alike are able to enjoy the city more freely.
“New Yorkers and visitors can feel the difference—people are out enjoying dinner, drinks, shows, or simply walking in neighborhoods without anxiety,” he added.
In response to the prospect of a federal intervention in the NYPD’s operations, Daughtry affirmed that the Adams administration is well-equipped to manage public safety.
“We work closely with city, state, and federal partners to protect this city, but as Mayor Adams insists, ‘We got this.’ Our public safety team is internationally renowned—highly trained and fully capable of keeping New Yorkers safe,” he stated.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her concerns about Trump’s federal takeover proposition, categorizing it as an affront to local law enforcement.
“If he is going to stand there and insult our law enforcement officers, there will be public outrage over that alone,” Hochul asserted.
Mayor Eric Adams aligned with Daughtry’s sentiments while suggesting that the federal administration could better support New York by taking measures to restrict gun access.
“We should work on stopping the access of these guns. There are more grants that I think our federal partners could provide. And while we do not wish to reject collaboration with the federal government, we don’t require anyone to take control of our law enforcement,” Adams stated.
He emphasized the excellence of the NYPD, saying, “We have the finest police department on the globe. People come here for training and seek our assistance. We have this situation under control.”
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