Crime & Safety

NYPD Stats Show Big Drop in Teen Homicides

Department statistics reveal 50 percent drop in teen homicides.

New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly hailed the success of a city program to cut teen homicides Monday: a recorded 50 percent drop in crimes in the category year-over-year since 2012.

There have been 43 homicides in New York City among residents between 13 and 21 years of age in 2013, police said. Through November 2012, there were 87. 

"Strategic enforcement and proactive policing combined with strong prosecutorial partnerships, including attention to the new battleground of social media, has resulted in lives being saved in New York City, mostly young minority men," Kelly said in a statement Monday. 

The report from the NYPD comes as police tactics — in particular stop-and-frisk — have faced months of heightened scrutiny. Recently, another report revealed that this summer, stop-and-frisk stops were down by 80 percent compared to 2012. 

Kelly credited the drop in teen homicides to a police initiative known as "Operation Crew Cut," which is designed to reduce gang violence in trouble spots across the five boroughs. In association with the operation, Kelly added, the police have arrested more than 400 suspects believed to be gang members for crimes including homicide, robbery, assault and weapons possession. 

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