Syracuse's Crime Drop: What's Behind the Change?

Syracuse saw a big drop in crime in 2025. There were only 14 murders. That's the lowest number in over 10 years. It's also a big drop from the peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, there were 32 murders each year. That's almost double the number in 2025. Crime isn't just down in Syracuse. Other cities saw drops too. Baltimore had a 61% drop in murders. Philadelphia and Chicago each had a 50% decline. New York City even tied its record for the longest stretch without a murder. So, what's behind this drop? Police Chief Joseph Cecile isn't sure. He thinks it's not just good police work. Something else is going on. Ernesto Lopez, a crime expert, agrees. He thinks there's something socially different now.The police in Syracuse are doing more than just patrolling. They're getting out of their cars and talking to people. They're also solving almost all murder cases. That might be scaring off would-be killers. The city is also putting money into community programs. These programs help people at risk of committing crimes. They offer mentoring, therapy, and job help. These programs might be making a difference. Vehicle thefts also went down. In 2024, over 1, 200 cars were stolen. In 2025, that number dropped to 797. The drop is even bigger for Kia and Hyundai cars. These cars were easy to steal. But now, the companies are fixing that problem.