St. Louis is experiencing a continued decrease in violent criminal activities, marking an impressive drop in crime rates in the early months of 2025, according to recent announcements by city officials. Compared to the same timeframe in 2024, homicides have seen a significant reduction with 14 reported through March 2, making for a decrease of 16, as reported by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones's office. The city, which had already witnessed the lowest number of homicides in over a decade during 2024, shows a substantial decline across other categories of violent crime: burglaries plummeted by 36%, auto thefts by 42%, and shooting incidents saw a striking 53% downturn.
Reflecting on these improvements, Mayor Jones expressed great satisfaction yet acknowledging the work still ahead, "One life affected by violent crime is one too many, which is why it is extremely encouraging to see the amount of violent crime continue to drop drastically in St. Louis," as she told the City of St. Louis news release. The police force received salary increases twice in the past two years; these include historic raises ranging from 8% to 13% in 2023, followed by raises up to 7% in 2025, and negotiations are ongoing for further adjustments, reiterating the city's support and recognition of their efforts to uphold public safety. The goal is to bolster the department's competitiveness and show appreciation for the officers who contribute to the city's security.
In an initiative spearheaded by Mayor Jones in July 2022, the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) was created to design and coordinate prevention programs alongside community groups. These include but aren't limited to Show Me Peace, which focuses on deescalation and life coaching, the Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation, offering support for survivors of domestic violence, and Living in Victory, a program dedicated to providing housing for those recovering from substance abuse. The strategy behind such multidimensional programs is to preemptively address violence, guiding residents onto paths of peace and productivity.
Preliminary reports indicate impressive outcomes: neighborhoods targeted by OVP intervention tactics have witnessed a remarkable 52% decrease in murders and nonnegligent manslaughter from 2023 to 2024 outperforming the rest of the city, in a statement obtained by the Mayor's office, denoting tangible success for the comprehensive approach which includes street intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy, and focused deterrence methods. This success was recently celebrated with an honor from FOCUS St. Louis' What's Right with the Region. Meanwhile, despite a citywide 43% reduction in homicides from 2020 to 2024, state efforts to usurp local control over the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department persist, challenging a decade-old public mandate favoring local oversight. Mayor Jones was quick to point out this friction, "When given a chance to vote on this issue, Missourians were extremely clear that they believe local police departments should be accountable to local residents. And under local leadership, St. Louis is now becoming a safer city," Mayor Jones reflected on the persistent tension between city achievements and state political maneuvers, according to the City of St. Louis news release.
