NYPD: Homicides, shootings down, other serious felonies spike

New York City saw sizable decreases in homicides and shootings in October compared to the same period last year but recorded spikes in other serious felonies, according to data released Thursday by the NYPD.

Homicides dropped 32.6% last month compared to October 2021 while shootings, a major bench mark for street violence, dropped 33.6%, led by what NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell called “significant declines” in the Bronx, Brooklyn, northern Manhattan and Queens.

October's declines were offset by an overall increase of nearly 6% in major felonies such as robbery, assault, burglary, rape, grand larceny and auto theft. For the year so far, those major crimes have increased by nearly 30% over 2021, which saw a hike over the prior year of 1.3%.

In a statement, Sewell said that cops are using intelligence-driven policing and flexibility, particularly in the subways, which in October saw a 28% spike in crime. In response, Sewell said the NYPD recently increased overtime so the presence of police in the subways would be augmented by the equivalent of 1,000 officers over three shifts.

The October crime numbers drew mixed reaction from some criminal justice experts. Richard Aborn, head of the nonprofit New York City Citizens Crime Commission, said the data on shootings and homicides was encouraging.

“The decrease in shootings is a big deal,” said Aborn, noting that the NYPD has for months been shifting cops to street enforcement and gun interdiction. Already the NYPD has confiscated 6,000 guns this year, enough, to arm a U.S. Army infantry brigade containing 5,000 soldiers. Those tactics might be useful to combat the nagging increases in robberies, burglaries and larcenies, according to Aborn.

“I think you will now see them employing similar strategies in other areas,” he said.

Subway crimes, however, remain a problem and are difficult to reduce, Aborn said. The latest NYPD data for the transit system showed that for the year, felonies have climbed nearly 41% this year over 2021, with grand larcenies spiking by 60%.

The spike this year in robbery and assaults is a reminder that there is still a great deal of violence on the streets, said Chris Herrmann, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

“There is no positive way to spin it," Herrmann said. “The questions is, how long can we maintain this kind of increase before everyone starts to freak out and be fearful?”

Joseph Giacalone, a former NYPD detective sergeant who also teaches at John Jay, said he was waiting to see if the surge in police overtime and other measures works to reduce subway crime. Giacalone said he was concerned that making cops work the extra hours, away from normal above ground duty, might lead to burnout and more cops leaving the job. Giacalone also thinks that shifting cops to the subways might impact street crime levels.

“Forcing 12 hour shifts does nothing [morale],” Giacalone added.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.