Fresno records 51-year low in homicides as crime declines broadly

Fresno police leaders and city officials reported on Jan. 6 that the city recorded 22 homicides in 2025, marking a 51-year low and a decline from 30 homicides the previous year. City leaders described the drop as part of broader reductions in violent and property crime, while warning that work remains to improve street safety and emergency response systems.

The department reported a homicide clearance rate of 105 percent for 2025, a figure the agency presented after including cases solved from prior years. Officials pointed to substantial decreases in shootings: nonfatal shootings fell 78 percent since 2020, and shooting incidents that struck a person fell from 107 in 2024 to 70 in 2025. Those shifts were attributed to targeted efforts against gang-related violence and sustained investigative work.

Property crime also fell across several categories in 2025. Vehicle thefts declined by roughly 34 percent, and residential burglary numbers dropped as well, officials said. At the same time, traffic enforcement increased, with more citations issued and 2,449 DUI arrests recorded for the year, reflecting a stepped-up focus on roadway safety and law enforcement presence.

Authorities credited a mix of community engagement, new technology and additional staffing for the improvements. Tools cited by the department included unmanned aerial systems and license plate reader technology, used alongside neighborhood outreach and partnerships to identify and apprehend suspects. Officials also noted that improved clearance rates reflected both investigative persistence and the resolution of older cases.

Despite the encouraging overall trends, city leaders highlighted a troubling increase in pedestrian fatalities. The number of pedestrian deaths rose to 28 in 2025, prompting discussion of infrastructure investments aimed at protecting walkers and cyclists. Planned projects mentioned at the press conference include a new countywide 911 center and a new police headquarters, investments officials said are intended to bolster emergency response capabilities and modernize policing facilities.

For Fresno residents, the data signals safer neighborhoods in many respects, especially where gang-related shootings had been most acute. The rise in DUI arrests and traffic citations suggests drivers will continue to encounter heightened enforcement. The increase in pedestrian deaths underlines an urgent need for traffic-calming measures, safer crossings and coordinated planning between transportation and public safety agencies.

City leaders framed the year as a turning point that will require sustained investment in community partnerships, infrastructure and technology to preserve gains while addressing remaining challenges in road safety and emergency communications. The Jan. 6 announcement came from the offices of Police Chief Mindy Casto and Mayor Jerry Dyer.