Two new crime reports show that crime was down in almost every category in Wilmington in 2022.
The number of murders in Wilmington was at its lowest for 15 years in 2022, and the number of shootings was the second lowest in 17 years, according to a new report issued by Delaware’s largest city.
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and lame duck Chief of Police Robert J. Tracy on Tuesday released the Wilmington Police Department’s 2022 Year-End Crime Report.
It included crime statistics for the past year along with data about police operations and community initiatives.
This report and the year-end 2022 CompStat report detail significant reductions as other cities continue to struggle with increasing violent crime.
Significant crime reductions detailed in the report include:
- a 58% reduction in murders
- a 30% reduction in shooting incidents
- a 29% reduction in shooting victims
- a 20% reduction in robberies
- a 16% reduction in burglaries
- a 14% reduction in aggravated results
- a 12% reduction in auto theft
- a 7% reduction in felony theft
The 2022 year-end CompStat report showed decreases in every major crime category, except of rape with six incidents in 2022 compared to five in 2021.
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“We are proud to release crime data for the past year, which show the results of our unyielding efforts to address crime in Wilmington,” said Tracy, who will leave his position this week to become police commissioner in St. Louis, Missouri.
Chief Robert Tracy
“These numbers show marked improvements in public safety for our residents and are a strong testament to the hard work of each of our officers,” Tracy said.
They also reflect the importance of crime prevention strategies, including Group Violence Intervention, Enhanced GunStat and our Crime Gun Intelligence Center to address gun crime and hold gun offenders accountable, Tracy said.
Purzycki congratulated Tracy and the Wilmington Police Department, along with city residents and business owners who have worked closely with the police.
The mayor also thanked Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, U.S. Attorney David Weiss, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
See police department’s 2022 Year-End Crime Report here.
See the 2022 year-end CompStat report here.
Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.
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