DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit saw the fewest homicides in nearly 60 years in 2024 — part of what the city is calling a successful push to cut down on violent crime.
According to preliminary statistics released by city leaders, Detroit ended 2024 with 203 homicides, down 19% from 2023, and 33% since 2022.
Mayor Mike Duggan credits a successful partnership between City Hall, Detroit Police, and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.
"In Detroit, we're seeing something extraordinary," the mayor said, at a news conference Friday. "We aren't just coming down to the COVID levels, we are dramatically below pre-COVID violence levels in the city. In fact, with 203 homicides this year, it's the fewest since 1965."
Non-fatal shootings were also down 25% in 2024, according to the city, and carjackings were down 16%.
"We were 'carjack city' in 2010 with ten a week. We rolled out the (Project) Green Light plan with an intention to wipe carjackings out of the city, and now we're fewer than three a week," said Duggan. "And I wanna thank the thousand business partners who have put green lights in the community."
The mayor said Detroit's successes serves as an example that investing in both police and community organizations is a winning strategy.
"The conversation I've been listening to over the years: 'Defund police, we need to fund prevention' — as if you have to fight with each other on the right and the left." Duggan said. "The truth of the matter was we needed more police, and we needed more CVI (Community Violence Intervention) programs, and we needed them working together. And Detroit is proving that result."
Duggan acknowledged that there is, however, a lot more work to be done. Looking forward, the mayor said plans call for a major expansion of the city's CVI program, with help from state lawmakers as far as funding.
"I am just so pleased with Governor Whitmer, who has been such a strong leader on this. Really pleased to see the new House Speaker Matt Hall has already committed to moving this as a priority," Duggan said. "And it's my hope that Lansing acts, because 200 homicides is too many. We have a lot more to do. We need the resources to do it, and we hope we will get that support."
More information about Detroit's 2024 crime stats is available to the public online AT THIS LINK (,pdf).