Portland has recorded the steepest drop in homicides this year among the 68 U.S. cities represented in the Major Cities Chiefs Association, according to data released from the organization.
Homicides in Portland decreased by 51% in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to a violent crimes survey released last week from the association of police executives.
The survey counted 17 homicides in Portland through June, compared with 35 the year before. The city also saw slights decreases in reported rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults.
Nationwide, violent crime has declined for the last three years. The survey notes homicides are down about 19% nationwide compared to last year.
In particular, so far this year, Portland has had two months with no homicides, a respite not seen since 2023. Shootings have also declined by 31% in the city in the first six months of this year, according to police data.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that the downward trend will continue for the rest of the year. Six people were killed in homicides in July, including a man who was gunned down in broad daylight outside the Multnomah County Central Library in downtown Portland. But city leaders and public-safety officials attributed the declines to continuing police strategies and policy choices, and partnerships with intervention programs and community organizations.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said the achievement belongs to “every family, community leader, neighborhood group and faith organization that has stepped up to look out for one another.”
“At the same time, we know more work remains, and we’ll continue investing in proven programs, strengthening partnerships and using clear data to guide our next steps,” Wilson said in a statement.
Police Chief Bob Day said the drop in violent crime in the city is “a promising sign that our collective efforts are having a real impact.”
One of those collective efforts comes from the violence-intervention program known as Ceasefire, which identifies people or groups involved in shootings and most at risk of being involved in shootings. The program sends outreach workers to talk to people about available services, such as job placement, mental-health treatment and relocation help.
“We’re so focused on each person’s individual needs to help them get out of the cycle of violence,” said Sierra Ellis, the director of the Ceasefire program.
What has been different this year has been increased buy-in from others involved in the public-safety system since Ceasefire launched in June 2023, Ellis said. Twice a week, she meets with law enforcement, prosecutors, parole and probation staff and juvenile court counselors. That level of daily connection is new and makes a difference, she said.
Other American cities comparable to Portland have not seen as large a decline in homicides as Portland, per the survey. San Francisco and Seattle both saw declines by about a third, from 17 to 11 and 27 to 18, respectively.
Meanwhile Boston saw an increase from 7 to 17 homicides in the first six months this year compared to 2024. The city ended last year with 24 killings, the lowest count in roughly seven decades.
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