City Touts 'Safest October On Record' in Monthly Crime Stats

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O'Neill touted decreasing crime statistics on Tuesday in what has become a monthly ritual for the city. Crime was at the lowest level for any October since the CompStat era began in 1995.

The city also lauded a decrease in overall crime by 3.4 percent year-to-date versus 2015. There have been 93 fewer shootings and 17 fewer murders in the city so far this year compared to last year. Rapes and misdemeanor sex crimes are up slightly year-to-date, though.

"Building on the momentum we've achieved so far in 2016, it is gratifying to see the members of the NYPD reach new crime reduction milestones,” said O’Neill. "With 3,000 fewer crimes this year compared with 2015, and 93 fewer shootings year-do-date, we are poised to remain the safest big city in the nation this holiday season."

Statistics in six of the seven major crimes were down in October 2016 compared to last October, with rapes being the only category to see a rise. There were 11 more rapes in the city in October 2016 as compared to 2015.

The city was specifically proud to single out murder statistics, which are down 32 percent from October 2015 compared to this year.

Also, transit crimes were down 17 cases (7.4 percent) and public housing crimes were down 52 cases (11.1 percent) compared to October 2015.

Photo Credit: Office of the Mayor