Index crime fell 7% and murders dropped 48% during the first five months of 2026 across 28 police departments participating in New York's Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, according to state data released Thursday.
The participating departments reported 29,654 index crimes from January through May, down from 31,752 during the same period in 2025. Violent crime fell 1%, from 4,644 incidents to 4,617.
Murders declined to 41 and robberies fell 17% to 830. Property crime decreased 8%, with reductions in motor-vehicle theft, burglary and larceny, the governor's office said.
Finger Lakes departments report double-digit declines
Elmira, Greece and Rochester were among 11 participating departments reporting double-digit percentage decreases in overall index crime. Jamestown, Kingston, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Spring Valley, Suffolk County, Utica and Hempstead also reached that mark.
Elmira, Greece and Ithaca were among nine departments with double-digit declines in violent crime. The others were Hempstead, Kingston, Lackawanna, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie and Watertown.
The state Division of Criminal Justice Services administers GIVE grants for personnel, overtime, technology and equipment. The agency also provides training and technical assistance focused on shootings, shooting deaths and firearm-related violence.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state has invested nearly $4 billion in public safety and credited the program, local law enforcement and other strategies for the declines. Division Commissioner Rossana Rosado said the figures represent fewer victims and deaths across participating communities.
New York City also reports record-low summer shootings
New York City recorded 195 shooting incidents, 249 shooting victims and 66 murders from June 1 through Aug. 31, according to the release. Each figure was described as the lowest for that period in Police Department records.
The shooting total was 32 below the previous low set in 2025, the victim total was 44 below the 2018 record and murders were 12 below the 2017 low.
Major crime in the city declined 6.6% in August, from 11,000 reported offenses a year earlier to 10,276. The Bronx led year-to-date reductions with an 11.9% decline.
The release did not include county-by-county totals outside the participating GIVE jurisdictions or describe changes in crime-reporting practices that could affect comparisons.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.