CMPD End of Year Report: Violent, Property and Overall Crime Decrease

Published on January 15, 2026

Collaborative initiatives drive significant reductions in overall and violent crime in 2025.

Charlotte, N.C. (Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026) – Today, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) released its annual public safety update, highlighting substantial reductions in violent crime, major operational achievements and new initiatives designed to strengthen community trust and enhance policing as the city moves into 2026.

Overall crime decreased 9% in 2025, with a 21% decrease in violent crime and a 6% decrease in property crime, even as Charlotte remains one of the nation’s fastest‑growing cities.

“Day in and day out, our officers defuse conflicts, address crimes as they unfold, prevent escalations of violence and provide our investigators with the critical information needed to identify and charge offenders,” Chief Estella D. Patterson said. “Our officers do more than respond to crime. They take proactive steps every day to prevent it and keep our neighborhoods safe.”

CMPD reported a 5% increase in total police interactions in 2025, totaling 574,701. Officer‑initiated proactive activity rose 21%, gun seizures increased 23% and arrests climbed 14%. These increases in engagement, Chief Patterson emphasized, are directly tied to meaningful reductions in crime citywide.

Violent crime remains a top priority for the department due to its impact on both victimization and residents’ sense of safety. Homicides decreased 13% in 2025 as compared to 2024, with a case clearance rate of 79%. CMPD reported a 24% decrease in robberies and a 20% decrease in aggravated assaults compared to 2024.

“These improvements reflect persistent, often unseen work that is driving real change,” Chief Patterson said. “These results are not just numbers. They are the outcome of targeted strategies.”

One partnership example highlighted was Operation Safe Season, a multi‑agency effort during the first two weekends of December. This operation enhanced visibility, focused enforcement efforts and strengthened collaboration with state and federal partners to ensure Uptown’s safety during peak holiday activity.

A restructuring of CMPD’s Crime Reduction Units (CRUs) in July 2025 has also played a significant role in addressing violent crime and maximizing resource impact. These units now strategically deploy based on real‑time crime trends and intelligence. CRUs have conducted 2,389 traffic stops, made 781 arrests, and seized 480 firearms and more than 148 pounds of illegal narcotics.

CMPD’s Juvenile Accountability Diversion and Empowerment (JADE) team continues to play a critical role in addressing youth involvement in crime since its launch in 2024. JADE’s work is contributing to a meaningful reduction in juvenile recidivism, as officers maintain long‑term engagement with youth after an initial incident.

In 2025, incidents involving juveniles as suspects decreased 11%, with juvenile property crime suspects down 19% and juvenile violent crime suspects down 9%. While data from 2025 is encouraging, CMPD emphasizes that sustained success requires continued support from judicial partners, service providers and families to ensure young people have the resources and guidance needed to stay on a positive path.

The success of the Civilian Crash Investigation Unit (CCI), which has significantly reduced the burden on sworn officers by handling minor crashes, was also highlighted. The program has saved thousands of service hours and improved response times, responding to 8,538 calls for service and completing 6,639 crash reports.

Additionally, the Connect Charlotte camera registration program continues to grow, with more than 2,800 residential and business cameras registered or integrated. The program has already helped officers identify suspects, seize narcotics and improve quality of life in neighborhoods. Help build a safer Charlotte and learn more about registering or integrating security cameras at ConnectCharlotte.org.

Safety in Charlotte is a partnership effort, and CMPD encourages residents and visitors to report suspicious activity by calling 911 or sharing information anonymously calling Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, using the Charlotte Crime Stoppers P3 Tips Mobile App or by visiting the Charlotte Crime Stoppers website.

Looking ahead in 2026, Chief Patterson closed the briefing by reaffirming her top priorities:

Reducing violent crime and disorder
Enhancing community engagement and collaboration
Improving employee morale and wellness including recruitment and retention

CMPD will continue expanding data‑driven strategies, strengthening partnerships with our law enforcement partners and investing in technology. The department is also prioritizing recruitment, running four academy classes per year and offering competitive incentives to attract high‑quality candidates.

The CMPD’s 2025 End of Year Public Safety Report statistics follow national standards set by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) summary statistics.

The following statistical breakdown provides a snapshot of crime in 2025 compared to 2024.

Violent crimes: 5,852 offenses in 2025 compared to 7,436 offenses in 2024.
Homicides: 96 in 2025 compared to 110 in 2024.
Aggravated assaults: 4,533 in 2025 compared to 5,695 in 2024.
Rapes: 172 in 2025 compared to 242 in 2024.
Robberies: 1,050 in 2025 compared to 1,389 in 2024.
Property crimes: 35,112 offenses in 2025 compared to 37,451 in 2024.
Residential burglaries: 1,644 in 2025 compared to 1,756 in 2024.
Commercial burglaries: 2,346 in 2025 compared to 2,546 in 2024.
Larcenies from automobiles: 10,252 in 2025 compared to 10,341 in 2024.
Vehicle thefts: 5,960 in 2025 compared to 7,442 in 2024.
Arsons: 122 in 2025 compared to 163 in 2024.

To review the full press conference or to access graphics and data shared:

View the full end-of-year report linked here.

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