ICYMI: Chicago Had Safest Summer Since The ‘60s

CHICAGO - In case you missed it, according to data from the Chicago Police Department (CPD), in 2025, Chicago recorded the fewest homicides in June, July, and August since 1965, WBEZ reported.

"While the numbers from this summer are encouraging, we are redoubling our efforts to continue to drive down violent crime," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "The historic progress we've seen this summer is proof that the progressive approach to community safety is working. Our goal is zero homicides, and we're going to get there through constitutional policing and by continuing to invest in Chicagoans."

This summer's numbers stand in stark contrast to previous peaks:

• The summer of 1974 saw 244 homicides, with 970 for the full year.

• The summer of 1995 saw 228 homicides, with 828 for the full year.

• The summer of 2016 saw 242 homicides, with 778for the full year.

• The summer of 2021 saw 274 homicides, with 805 for the full year.
• This summer saw 123homicides, with 278 total homicides through August 31, 2025.

Under the leadership of Mayor Johnson's Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, CPD's work to strengthen investigations within the Bureau of Detectives has led to a homicide clearance rate of 74%, the highest in over a decade.

"The heroic men and women of the Chicago Police Department have worked to reduce violence and make every community safer throughout our city," said CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling. "While this reduction in crime is progress, we know there is more work to be done to prevent crime, as well as arrest and prosecute those responsible for violence in our city. As we work to restore a sense of safety for every Chicagoan, we will also continue to support the victims and families who have been traumatized by violence and continue to live with this trauma."

This summer, CPD and the Mayor's Office for Community Safety built upon the People's Plan for Community Safetyto address the root causes of crime and disrupt cycles of violence by implementing community-led initiatives supporting the individuals most acutely impacted by violence.

"Our partnerships with CPD, Community Violence Intervention, community-based organizations, and City departments have played a pivotal role in driving down crime and violence," said Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood.

Summer 2025 saw across the board decreases in violent crime from 2024. The percentage changes in major categories from June, July, August 2024 to the same period in 2025 were:

• Overall Violent Crime: -23%

• Homicides: -46.7%

• Shootings: -42.6%

• Robberies: -33.7%

• Vehicular Hijackings: -45.6%

Key excerpts from WBEZ Chicago: Chicago sees its fewest summer murders since 1965

By Chip Mitchell

• As the Trump administration plans to send more federal agents to Chicago and threatens to deploy the National Guard-all in the name of fighting violent crime-a WBEZ analysis has found that a three-month summer span saw the fewest murders in 60 years in Chicago while overall violent crime remained near its lowest point in at least four decades.
• Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration says what's in place to drive down Chicago violent crime includes improved police leadership under Supt. Larry Snelling and beefed up "community-violence intervention" in which ex-offenders with deep roots in a neighborhood mediate disputes, avert retaliatory attacks and connect at-risk individuals to social services. The mayor is also talking up investmentsin youth summer jobs, affordable housing and public education.
• Criminologists say the driving factor may be increased community investment in jobs, infrastructure and programming since the depths of the pandemic.
• So far this year, violent crime is down 21.5% from 2024, according to city data based on a similar list of violent crime categories.

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