Milwaukee police: Overall crime down, homicides up compared to 2024

MPD releases 2nd-quarter crime data report

The Milwaukee Police Department released its mid-year crime report, providing data from the first six months of 2025, on Wednesday.

MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Police Department released data for the first half of the year, showing overall crime is down compared to last year – while homicides are up.

What they're saying:

The data from Jan. 1 through June 30 shows overall crime – thefts, assaults, arsons, robberies and carjackings – has decreased compared to the first half of 2024.

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"There's a 17% or so continued decline in major crime categories," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said.

"One note of exception as crime continues to drop in Milwaukee are homicide numbers, which unfortunately have ticked up in the city over the course of this quarter."

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson talks crime data

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Wednesday, July 9 shared the data on serious crime over the first two quarters of 2025.

However, homicides have increased. There have been eight more killings through the first six months of 2025 compared to the first six months of last year.

Police Chief Jeffery Norman highlighted poor conflict resolution, petty arguments and inter-family conflict. The mayor agreed and added "so many people have guns who should not have them."

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Johnson said that includes children and people with a criminal history. He said adults need to be more accountable and set better examples for kids. He also wants change at the federal level to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

By the numbers:

Here's a look at MPD's crime data trends, comparing the first half of 2025 to the first half of 2024.

Homicide: up 13%
Rape: 218 up 1%
Robbery: down 19%
Aggravated Assault: down 19%
Human Trafficking: up 32%
Burglary: down 3%
Theft: down 7%
Auto Theft: down 8%
Arson: down 26%
Total Violent Crime: down 17%
Total Property Crime: down 7%
Total Part I Crime: down 11%

Non-fatal shootings are down 7% so far this year compared to last. Overall, crashes are down 4% and crash fatalities are down 50%. Hit-and-run crashes also dropped 4%.

Officials also noted MPD's homicide clearance rate for the year is 82%.

What they're saying:

James Binns woke up to news that someone had been killed Tuesday night in his neighborhood near 42nd and Florist. While the location surprised him, the homicide itself did not.

"I was shocked because nothing like that happens over here," he said. "It's sad. It's real sad."

That fatal shooting was not part of MPD's quarterly crime report. Still, Binns said they don't see much hope for fewer homicides unless people change how they handle problems.

"It's just more guns are out here now than anything," he said.

The Source: The information in this report was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department.

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