New Orleans Reports Major Decline in Murders as City Continues Public Safety Progress

New Orleans is continuing to make significant progress in reducing violent crime, with the New Orleans Police Department reporting just 22 murders between May and August 2026, the lowest total for that four-month period in at least eight years.

The numbers represent a dramatic turnaround. During the same four-month period in 2025, New Orleans recorded 41 murders, meaning this year’s total represents a 46 percent decline. In 2022, the city recorded 100 murders during those four months.

NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the department’s approach has focused on strategically deploying officers and resources while using intelligence to identify individuals and locations associated with violent crime.

“We are being intentional about where we put our people and resources, who we focus on and how we use intelligence,” Kirkpatrick said. “22 is still 22 too many, but the direction matters, and we intend to keep pushing.”

The department has credited a combination of data-driven policing, technology and coordinated enforcement with local, state and federal law enforcement partners as important components of its strategy.

The declining murder numbers also represent an important development for New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, whose administration has made Public Safety a Central Priority. Earlier this summer, Moreno highlighted the City’s Historic Progress, noting that New Orleans’ murder rate had fallen to levels comparable to those last seen in 1969.

Progress With More Work Ahead

While City Leaders have reason to welcome the numbers, reducing violence remains an ongoing challenge. Every homicide represents a family and community experiencing loss, and maintaining the downward trajectory will require continued cooperation among law enforcement, neighborhood organizations, violence-prevention programs and residents.

The latest statistics nevertheless provide evidence of a substantial shift in a city that has struggled with Violent Crime for generations.

For Kirkpatrick, the goal is not simply celebrating lower numbers but sustaining them. For the Moreno Administration, continued reductions could also have broader implications for neighborhoods, economic development, tourism and residents’ perceptions of safety.

The challenge now is ensuring that the progress continues and reaches communities across New Orleans.

If the current trajectory can be sustained, 2026 could mark another significant chapter in New Orleans’ continuing effort to become a safer city for residents and visitors alike.