New York City’s struggle with crime is once again in the spotlight, as officials tout historic lows in shootings and major crimes while residents and political leaders debate the effectiveness—and fairness—of the NYPD’s strategies. The contrast between statistical improvements and public perception has become a focal point in the city’s ongoing conversation about safety, justice, and community trust.
On September 3, 2025, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch publicly praised the NYPD’s gang database as a critical tool in addressing the recent uptick in gang-related violence, particularly in the Bronx. “Much of the violence of what we’ve seen over the last few weeks in the Bronx is gang-related — we know who the gang members are thanks to a Criminal Group database and know where they operate,” Tisch said, according to reporting by The New York Post. She emphasized that the department is actively targeting known offenders, adding, “We know who the people are and are going after them.”
The gang database, operational since 2013, catalogs more than 500 criminal groups and thousands of individuals, including details such as distinctive tattoos linked to gang affiliation. Nearly half of those listed have previous arrests. Supporters within the NYPD argue that this intelligence is indispensable for precision policing—deploying officers to hotspots and preempting violent incidents before they escalate.
Yet, not everyone is convinced. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral front-runner and a self-described socialist from Queens, has been vocal in his opposition. In 2022, Mamdani joined other city council members in calling for the database’s dismantling, alleging that it unfairly targets minorities and constitutes racial profiling. During the current primary season, he has doubled down on that stance, making the abolition of the gang database a centerpiece of his campaign.
Despite political friction, the NYPD’s statistics for 2025 paint a largely positive picture—at least on paper. As reported by PIX11 News and confirmed in city data, shootings and shooting victims in New York City have hit their lowest levels in recorded history. From January to August 2025, there were 489 shooting incidents and 611 shooting victims citywide. Major crimes were down 6.7% in August compared to the same month last year. Commissioner Tisch noted, “Our shooting incidents in the borough of the Bronx are down 20%,” adding that, “The shootings in the borough of the Bronx is trending down.”
Mayor Eric Adams, appearing alongside Tisch on ABC7 Eyewitness News on September 4, acknowledged that while statistics are encouraging, the public’s sense of safety does not always align with the data. “We’re clear that some of these high-profile shootings with multiple victims, it just creates a feeling of unsafe and we have been focusing on that,” Adams said. He maintained, “But the numbers don’t lie, the city is still the safest big city in the country.”
Recent weeks, however, have tested this narrative. A particularly violent stretch in the Bronx saw 13 people become shooting victims between August 25 and August 31, according to NYPD data cited by PIX11 News. One especially tragic incident occurred at a basketball tournament in Haffen Park, where a 32-year-old man was killed and four others wounded—two critically. Four reputed gang members, including a 16-year-old, were subsequently charged with murder in connection to the shooting. The 47th Precinct, covering the area, has experienced a 50% surge in shootings this year, bucking the citywide trend of declining crime.
Still, Tisch and Adams have pointed to swift police action in the face of such violence. On August 28, the city deployed 1,000 officers to patrol hotspot zones across the Bronx, targeting areas known for gang activity and recurring gun violence. The NYPD also welcomed more than 1,000 new recruits in August—the largest class since January 2016, and the department is on track to hire the largest number of new officers in its history.
Yet, for many New Yorkers, numbers are only part of the story. Bre, a mother living near Saint James Park in the Bronx, told PIX11 News, “Even when we’re in the house we have to decipher between firecrackers and gunshots, so that’s already self-explanatory in itself.” Others, like Leslie from Fordham, see things differently: “I know shootings go on but it’s not excessive like what people may be thinking, I don’t see too many crimes like in other countries.” The gap between perception and reality remains stubbornly wide.
This disconnect is not lost on city leaders. During the ABC7 interview, Mayor Adams stressed the importance of addressing both statistical progress and public sentiment. “I would never dismiss how people are feeling. We need to address how they're feeling and the numbers don’t lie. The city is moving in the right direction,” Adams said. He also highlighted the city’s coordination with federal authorities, noting daily meetings focused on combating gun violence. “Where we need help from the federal government is stopping the flow of guns into our cities and cities across America,” Adams stated.
Commissioner Tisch echoed the mayor’s confidence in the NYPD’s abilities, pushing back against the idea of bringing in the National Guard to address street crime. “We don’t want or need the help of the National Guard in New York City. And I actually—in my opinion, think that it creates real safety problems for us at the NYPD. Our National Guard are not trained to handle street crime in New York City,” she said during the ABC7 segment.
Beyond the streets, school safety has also taken center stage as students return for the new academic year. Starting September 5, hundreds of uniformed NYPD officers will be stationed on foot posts in corridors around schools to ensure safe passage for students—a move designed to provide reassurance to parents and children alike. School safety agents will now operate under direct police supervision, part of a broader plan to create a secure environment for the city’s youth. “It is all about creating a safe environment for our youth,” Tisch said.
For both Adams and Tisch, the issue is personal. The mayor referenced speaking with the mother of a young girl shot in the Bronx, reflecting on the emotional toll these crimes take on families. Tisch, too, mentioned her own children starting school, underscoring the shared stakes city leaders have in keeping New York’s children safe.
Despite impressive gains in reducing shootings, the city’s crime story remains complex. While major crimes are down, August saw a 33% jump in murders and a 24% increase in reported rapes compared to the previous year—a reminder that progress is not always linear and that challenges persist. The debate over tools like the gang database, and the tension between public perception and statistical reality, are likely to shape New York’s political and policing landscape well into the future.
In a city where both numbers and narratives matter, New York’s leaders are betting that transparency, targeted policing, and community engagement will keep the city on a safer path—one that balances security with fairness, and data with lived experience.
