Paterson’s homicides in 2024 were fewest in 2 decades, but other crimes rose

PATERSON — The number of homicides in the city fell to the lowest level in two decades in 2024, but nearly every other type of crime increased compared with 2023.
Paterson’s reduction in killings mirrored national and statewide trends for cities. Newark, Jersey City and Camden all had fewer homicides in 2024 than they did in the previous year, news reports said.
Paterson ended 2024 with 11 homicides, the lowest number since 2004, when there were 10 killings in the city, according to Uniform Crime Reports. In 2023, Paterson had 17 homicides, in 2022 it had 28 and in 2021 there were 29 killings in the city.
In contrast, the number of sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated assaults, thefts and stolen autos in Paterson went up during 2024.
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Officials did not offer any explanations for why killings went down while all other crimes went up. But a spokesman for the Police Department noted that most of Paterson’s non-homicide crime statistics remained lower than they were in 2022.
“As we close out 2024, the Paterson Police Department has made significant improvements in the quality of life for the people of Paterson,’’ said state-appointed Officer in Charge Patrick Murray. “Our clear focus on gun violence has reduced the number of shooting victims and homicides to historic levels.
“As we head into 2025, we endeavor to keep our important work going and continue to strengthen relationships with the citizens of our community, as they deserve nothing less,” Murray said.
Arrests up 30% in 2024
Law enforcement officials also pointed out that the number of arrests made in Paterson jumped by about 30%, with the majority of those cases involving people wanted for pending warrants.
Mayor Andre Sayegh said the 2024 homicide data reflected reductions that started in the first three months of 2022, before Attorney General Matthew Platkin’s takeover of the city’s Police Department.
“It is encouraging to see that crime continues to drop in Paterson,” said Sayegh, whose legal battle for control of the Police Department is pending before the New Jersey Supreme Court.
City police officials have not yet issued the final crime statistics for 2024. But the year-to-date numbers through Dec. 29 showed a 3.6% increase in sexual assaults, 14.9% jump in robberies, 9.2% rise in aggravated assaults, 7.1% rise in thefts, and 6.4% increase in stolen autos.
“It’s hard to celebrate the homicides when all the other numbers went up,” said Councilwoman Lilisa Mimms. “Just one death is too many.”
Councilman Luis Velez said extra funding from the state that paid for police overtime work helped make Paterson safer in 2024. “That was a big plus in cutting the homicides,” Velez said.
Paterson Policemen’s Benevolent Association President Angel Jimenez said the overtime compensated for the city’s understaffing in the Police Department. “How long is that going to last?” the police union official said of the overtime money.
Paterson Black Lives Matter leader Zellie Thomas said the reduction in homicides stemmed from increased investments in community-based violence intervention programs, not just additional police patrols.
“It’s not only police,” Thomas said. “They want to take all the credit, but it’s not just their accomplishment.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ homicides in 2024 at lowest level in 2 decades