LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell today announced drops in Homicides and Person Crimes while pledging continued aggressive action to keep Angelenos safe. Mayor Bass and Chief McDonnell were joined by members of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners and community members served by the Hollenbeck Division where homicides decreased in 2024 by 65%.
“As we continue to make the City of Los Angeles safer for residents and visitors, L.A. has seen a decrease in Homicides and Person Crimes citywide,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “This progress is the direct result of the tireless work of our law enforcement officers, community leaders and residents who have come together to build a safer, stronger city. While we recognize this progress, we remain committed to sustaining these reductions and ensuring that every resident feels safe in their home, on their street and in their community. Public safety is my top priority, and the City of Los Angeles will continue to take bold steps to keep crime down and hold those who commit crime accountable.”
“The 2024 crime data reflects the impact of our ongoing commitment to public safety and the strength of our partnerships with the community,” said LAPD Chief of Police Jim McDonnell. “A 14% reduction in homicides and a 19% drop in shooting victims are significant strides in our efforts to reduce crime. These improvements are a direct result of strategic policing, targeted enforcement, and the invaluable collaboration with community organizations dedicated to violence prevention. While we celebrate this progress, there is still work to be done and we realize if you were a crime victim these numbers may not carry weight. We hear you. The LAPD remains committed to ensuring every resident feels safe in their neighborhood. Together, we will continue driving these numbers in the right direction as we look ahead to the rest of 2025.”
Key Findings:
Homicides Compared to 2023 (based off data as of 1/6/25)
Homicides decreased 14% (-47) in 2024 compared to 2023.
Three of the four geographic Bureaus within the LAPD saw a reduction in homicides.
Operations-Valley Bureau experienced the most significant decrease at 28% fewer homicides in 2024 as compared to 2023.
In communities where the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program and the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) have taken proactive measures to engage residents, LAPD has reported a reduction of 40% in homicides. This underscores the powerful impact of community involvement in enhancing safety and fostering a more secure environment for all.
Person Crimes Compared to 2023
Victims shot has decreased by approximately 19% (-225). The recent decline in shooting victims can be attributed in part to the LAPD's proactive measures and community partnership aimed at preventing Person Crimes. Their efforts have resulted in the successful seizure of 7,634 illegal firearms, including 790 that have been identified as ghost guns. This proactive approach demonstrates a commitment to enhancing community safety and addressing the challenges posed by unregulated firearms.
Citywide Person Crimes are comparable to what has historically been referred to as Violent Crimes. This includes Homicide, Rape, Robbery and Aggravated Assault, which decreased by 2,586 crimes (30,574 Person/Violent Crimes in 2023).
Aggravated Assaults decreased by -2,371 crimes (20,042 Aggravated Assaults in 2023)
Rapes decreased by -97 crimes (1,505 Rapes in 2023).
Robberies remained flat with 8,637 crimes (8,696 Robberies in 2023).
Property Crimes Compared to 2023
Hundreds of arrests made and more than $36 million in stolen merchandise recovered by the Organized Retail Crime Task Force to address retail theft in Los Angeles.
More than 100 arrests were made by the Heavy Metal Task Force and thousands of pounds worth of copper wire recovered.
Citywide Property Crimes, which includes Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, Theft from Motor Vehicle, and Theft, decreased by -7,259 crimes (109,025 Property Crimes in 2023).
Burglaries decreased by -1,092 crimes (15,340 Burglaries in 2023).
Motor Vehicle Thefts (MVT) decreased by -1,963 crimes (26,827 MVTs in 2023).
Theft from Motor Vehicle (TFMV) decreased by crimes -3,988 (30,788 TFMVs in 2023)
Thefts decreased by crimes -216 (36,070 Thefts in 2023).
Traffic Safety Compared to 2023
Felony hit and run traffic crashes resulting in a death decreased by nearly 6.5% (-9).
Driving Under the Influence-related crashes resulting in death decreased by 36.7% (-11).
Traffic crashes where a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle resulting in a death decreased by 7.0% (-13).
Recruitment
As of the end of November 2024, LAPD reported a four-year-high of applications to join the LAPD.
The Mayor appointed Chief McDonnell to lead aggressively to expand and grow the Department and improve morale among officers.
Improving The Way Data Is Gathered and Reported
In 2024, LAPD transitioned its data collection process to align with the federally reported National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in order to bring the Department in line with National reporting standard expectations as mandated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Many cities throughout the country underwent this change in prior years. This new system captures data on all offenses within a single incident, providing a more comprehensive view of crime. NIBRS also includes more data elements, such as victim and offender demographics, relationships, and the presence of weapons, enhancing crime analysis and reporting accuracy. For 2024, the Person and Property Crimes statistics are a combination of the Summary Reporting System (SRS) and the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) standards, meaning data provided are the most accurate estimations due to the change in methodology for each category. Homicides and Victims Shot are counted by hand and not affected by the change in data procedure.