Camden officials are calling the latest police figures “important progress” as newly released data show homicides have plunged compared with the pre-reform era. According to city leaders, murders in the first quarter of 2026 are roughly 90% lower than in the same period in 2012, a shift they say caps more than a decade of changes that began when the municipal force was replaced by a county police division.
County figures indicate that during the first quarter of 2026, homicides were down about 90% compared with 2012, overall violent crime fell around 57%, and shootings dropped 89% across the city's 19 neighborhoods, according to reporting by NBC10 Philadelphia. Officials say the statistics come from data the Camden County Police Department shared with media on April 3. If those trends hold, the numbers would represent a sharp reversal from the early 2010s, when the city recorded some of its deadliest years, and officials are clearly happier to talk about a 90% drop than about that grim stretch.
County releases and local coverage state that Camden recorded its first homicide-free winter in about 50 years and that 2025 ended with just 12 homicides, the lowest annual total since 1985. The stretch from Dec. 21 to March 20 passed with zero homicides, county officials said in a statement. Chief Gabriel Rodriguez called the latest statistics “great indicators of progress,” while stressing that the department is “by no means done.”
What Officials Credit
Leaders credit a mix of unity policing, neighborhood outreach, and technology upgrades, including a drone program, as part of the turnaround, with programs such as the Village Initiative and expanded after-school and block-party events singled out for praise, according to FOX29. County statements and coverage say the department has worked with nonprofits, federal funders, and local businesses to create more “third places” for youth and to steer resources toward prevention. Officials add that those efforts are intended to build trust so residents are more willing to report crimes and contact police in non-emergencies.
Experts Urge Caution
Researchers and local observers, however, warn that steep year-to-year drops and comparisons with a particularly violent 2012 do not erase deeper structural problems. John Shjarback, a criminal-justice scholar, told WHYY that comparing today's county-run force with the former city department is “apples to oranges,” and he noted that Camden's per-capita homicide rate still sits above national averages despite the recent gains. Experts say staffing levels, sustained social investments, and ongoing community programs will determine whether the improvements last.
Looking Ahead
County and city leaders say they plan to keep expanding community programs, bolstering staffing, and using data to target problem areas while watching closely for any signs of backsliding. Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen, in a county statement, framed public safety as the foundation for other improvements and praised the department's community work and investments. For families who have lost loved ones, the recent declines mean fewer funerals and a cautious sense of relief, but many residents and researchers argue that long-term investments will be needed to lock in the progress.
