Homicides in Newark have hit a historic low this year when compared to the last decade but non-fatal shootings have increased, city officials announced Wednesday.
There were 70 homicides to date this year -- about a 28 percent drop from the year prior, Mayor Ras Baraka said during a press conference on the city's year-end crime statistics at the police-fire communications center. That's 26 fewer murders than last year's 96, officials said. However, an additional 75 people were involved in non-fatal shootings, about a 27 percent rise when compared to last year, police said.
"Obviously this is not a victory, we're not claiming that we won here, we recognize that we still have a long way to go," Baraka said.
Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose credited better intelligence gathering and more officers on the streets for the dip in homicides. He said the increased use of high-powered rifles and automatic weapons has also led to a spike in non-fatal shooting victims.
"We're still plagued by violence in the inner city," he said.
The state's bail reform law has often led to additional shootings, Baraka said, arguing that it needs to be fixed. When people are arrested for non-fatal shootings and let go, often there's retaliation that takes place and that "increases the opportunity for more shootings to take place," he said.
"When a police catch a guy and put him in jail they have to go out and do it again ... so there is a pattern," he said. "There are police officers who are working really hard out here ... the intelligence unit is doing really well, they are focusing on a lot of these shootings."
Since taking office, Baraka has beefed up the police division, boosting its ranks from around 900 officers to 1,135 by year's end. He highlighted the division's work engaging the community and the more than 500 firearms confiscated from the streets, a more than 23 percent increase in gun seizures.
"We can't judge the police division by crime only," Ambrose said. "When you see that we have more contact with the community and we have less complaints, that means we're going in the right direction." He said there was also better cooperation between residents and police.
Among other highlights from the division:
- Homicides are down 38 percent since 2013.
- There were 358 fewer robbery victims in 2017 compared to the year prior, about a 26 percent reduction.
- Police interactions with citizens increased 22 percent; while complaints about police dropped by 20 percent.
- Last year 10 homicides were related to domestic violence incidents; this year that number was 4.
- 467 officers have been hired since 2014; Baraka wants the police force to number about 1,700.
- Of the 516 firearms seized, 79 handguns were used in other crimes and 52 were high-powered guns.
- Of the
Baraka said 79 officers in the South Ward and 53 in the North Ward were equipped with body cameras and every precinct would receive cameras next year. Two new precincts will open in the North and West wards: One in the Vailsburg area and the other along North 10th Street.
With the new police hires Baraka said the police division had stabilized and led to an overall reduction in crime.
Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.