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April 4, 2025 (MINNEAPOLIS) Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey are highlighting a significant and encouraging decline in both shooting and homicide victims during the first quarter of 2025. According to recent data, gunshot wound victims have dropped to levels lower than those seen before the pandemic, and homicides are on par with first-quarter numbers from 2019—continuing a positive trend that began after a peak in 2022.
Also of note, based on current data, the City of Minneapolis has not experienced a homicide since February 15th, 2025. That span of time has not occurred since January 31, 2017, when Minneapolis went 45 days without a homicide.
“These results reflect the dedicated efforts of our officers, and our law enforcement and community-based partners,” said Chief Brian O’Hara. “Shootings and murders are what keep me up at night, and to see them drop to pre-pandemic levels—even with hundreds of fewer officers than what the MPD had before 2020—is truly remarkable. Morale in the police department is higher than it’s been in years, and that says a lot about the strength and resilience of the men and women serving this city. I’m incredibly proud of their hard work, and we intend to keep pushing forward.”
“We’re seeing positive change in our city,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “Gun violence and shootings are down, and it’s thanks to the hard work of our police, community partners, and everyday Minneapolis residents. This is a strong start, but our work is far from over. We’ll continue our efforts to make Minneapolis a safer place for everyone.”
Sustained Efforts Driving Progress
The MPD attributes this positive trend to several ongoing strategies:
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Focused enforcement in areas most affected by violent crime, supported by local and federal law enforcement partners.
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Targeted attention on a small number of high-impact offenders – identifying, arresting, and bringing to justice the few bad actors without negatively impacting neighborhoods.
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Community collaboration with outreach groups to disrupt violence through visible, positive presence and outreach.
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Partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to identify and prosecute the city’s most violent criminals.
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Prevention of homeless encampments that often-become hubs for criminal activity.
- The Robbery Pattern Response Protocol
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Continued efforts through the Juvenile Curfew Taskforce to curb juvenile crime through outreach, support, and enforcement.
While other crimes such as burglary have decreased to pre-pandemic levels, the MPD acknowledges that challenges remain. Aggravated assaults, robberies, and auto thefts are still occurring at rates higher than those seen before the pandemic. However, all three have shown year-to-date declines.
More Time for Community Engagement
This reduction in violent incidents is also creating more opportunities for officers to engage in proactive, non-enforcement interactions with community members—strengthening relationships and reinforcing the foundation of community policing.
Officer Wellness a Growing Priority
Finally, a decrease in violent crime benefits not just the community but the health and wellness of our dedicated officers. Reduced exposure to traumatic scenes and incidents helps preserve the mental and emotional well-being of our force—a critical element in long-term public safety success.
MPD remains committed to these efforts and to building a safer, more connected Minneapolis for all.
4-4-2025 - Promising Decline in Gun Violence Marks Strong Start to 2025.pdf
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