NOPD announces 'significant reduction in crime'

New Orleans Police chief Ann Kirkpatrick on Friday touted crime reduction in New Orleans. The chief said crime is down nationwide, but not as much as it is here.

"New Orleans is beating that national trend, almost, well, well beyond twofold, and so it is leading the country," Kirkpatrick said at a late-morning news conference. "New Orleans is head-turning in this country right now on our results, and in terms of major cities, has been amazing."

The chief touted a 43 percent decrease in violent crime, including murder, nonfatal shootings, and armed robberies. She also noted that the number of juveniles being murdered is down 71 percent.

Kirkpatrick said cops are also solving more cases.

"New Orleans, many years ago, was only in like, the low and mid 20s in solving the crimes once they occurred," she said. "Today, we show a solve rate of 65 percent."

Chief Kirkpatrick says solving crimes goes hand-in-hand with lowering the crime rate.

The following information, provided by the NOPD Analytics Division, shows a marked decrease in multiple crime categories to date in 2024. These include:

A 24-percent decrease in persons crime overall
A 43-percent decrease in violent crime (murder, nonfatal shootings, and armed robberies)
A 37-percent decrease in murders, seeing 51 incidents to date as of today.
A 71-percent decease in the number of juvenile victims in homicide incidents.
NOPD Homicide Section currently at a year-to-date solve rate of just over 65 percent.
A 43-percent decrease in nonfatal shootings, with 107 fewer shooting incidents than at this point in 2023.
A 39-percent decrease in the number of nonfatal shooting victims, showing 124 fewer victims year to date.
A 46-percent decrease in armed robbery incidents
A 49-percent decrease in carjacking incidents
An overall decrease of 25 percent in property crime incidents, which includes
A 46-percent decrease in armed robbery incidents
A 49-percent decrease in carjacking incidents
A 44-percent decrease in vehicle burglary incidents, which also includes a 44-percent decrease in the number of firearms stolen in vehicle burglary incidents
While many property crime categories have seen decreases, the NOPD has seen an 11-percent increase in theft incidents, as well as a 21-percent increase in shoplifting incidents.