Report: Overall crime in Wilmington down, but murders up

WILMINGTON – An end-of-year crime report shows Wilmington had a 21% drop in crime in 2024, including a drop in shootings. 

“We are proud to share crime data for the past year, and to highlight continued reductions in major crime categories and enhancements to public safety in Wilmington,” said Wilmington Police Department Chief Wilfredo Campos in a news release. 

Although overall crime dropped, there was an increase in murders in 2024 compared to 2023, with 24 compared with 14 in the year prior. 

There’s been a 31% decrease in the number of murders reported in 2017 – 35 total incidents – in the first year of Mayor Mike Purzycki’s administration. 

“As the final annual crime report from my administration is issued today, I reiterate how proud I am to have served for the past eight years with one of the finest police departments in the country,” said Mayor Purzycki in a news release.

Requests to reach incoming Wilmington Mayor John Carney for comment on the crime report Thursday were unanswered.

Of the 24 murders in 2024, 17 were by gunfire, two were the result of stabbings, and five were the result of assaults or strangulation. 

Wilmington PD states this represents a significant increase in the number of non-shooting related murders and an increase in isolated incidents prompting these crimes. 

“While we have reported an increase in murders in 2024 compared with the year prior, detectives have already made arrests in more than a dozen of those cases, and we continue to follow up on leads to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the other incidents,” Campos said. 

There were 81 shootings in 2024, compared to 91 in 2023. 

2024 had the third lowest number of shootings in the past 20 years. Just 2018 (72 shootings) and 2005 (76 shootings) had fewer. 

 “Our report also includes details on a number of key initiatives launched in the past year, including our Partners in Care Co-Responder Program and our new Wellness Program,” Campos said. “We look forward to making further progress in 2025.”

The Partners in Care Co-Responder Program pairs trained mental health clinicians with police officers, who respond as a team to calls for service and conduct proactive outreach to support those in need in our community. 

It served more than 300 individuals and families this pilot year in partnership with ChristianaCare, including a case manager and two clinicians.

The department’s Wellness Program is designed to support sworn and civilian members, and retirees of the department and to extend resources to promote overall health and wellness. It includes mental, physical, and financial health and wellness resources and training. 

“The annual statistics we have released through the years are very encouraging and show continual improvement in policing and community relations,” Purzycki said. “This effort began under Chief Robert Tracy in 2017 and has continued without interruption under Chief Campos.”

In addition to concentrating on reducing crime, the Wilmington Police Department has expanded its efforts to interact and communicate with the public, Purzycki pointed out.

There’s a continued trend of increased isolated incidents leading to shootings and murders, and a sustained reduction in group-related violence. 

Other highlights of the end-of-year crime report:

• 28% of incidents could be described as ‘isolated incidents,’ with 5 being domestic-related and 20 being related to altercations or other isolated causes.
• 7% of incidents are believed to have been related to narcotics or robberies.
• 23% of incidents are believed to have been related to group violence.
• The motive in connection with the remaining 42% of incidents remains under investigation.

Purzycki cited that the Wilmington Police also established a Police Community Engagement Unit, has organized and hosted monthly Community Resource Fairs, has organized and conducted nearly 100 weekly Community Outreach Walks over the past two years, and has organized monthly Coffee with a Cop programs. 

“How could we not be proud of these efforts at improving policing in Wilmington and making our city safer for all?” Purzycki said. 

The department’s 2024 Year-End Report, which includes the year-end CompStat report, can be viewed here.