| Wilmington Mayor Michael Purzycki and outgoing Police Chief Robert Tracy released a 2022 crime report that showed murders to be at their lowest point in 15 years with shootings the fewest in 17 years. |
| The Wilmington Police Department’s 2022 Year-End Crime Report, includes crime statistics for the past year along with data about police operations and community initiatives. This report, along with the Year-End 2022 CompStat report, which was also issued, details significant reductions in crime at a time when many cities continue to struggle with increasing violent crime. Tracy will leave his position this week to become Police Commissioner in St. Louis. “We are proud to release crime data for the past year, which show the results of our unyielding efforts to address crime in Wilmington,” said Tracy. “These numbers show marked improvements in public safety for our residents and are a strong testament to the hard work of each of our officers. They also speak to the importance of our core crime prevention strategies and the efforts we put into place over the past several years – including Group Violence Intervention, Enhanced GunStat and our Crime Gun Intelligence Center – to address gun crime and hold gun offenders accountable.” “Congratulations to Chief Tracy and the men and women of the Wilmington Police Department, and to residents and business owners in neighborhoods around the city who have worked closely with the WPD to help produce these results,” said Purzycki. “I also want to express our City’s appreciation to Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, U.S. Attorney David Weiss as well as to our other partner agencies, which include the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.” Purzycki and Tracy have been low-key over the years in reporting crime stats, knowing that a wave of violence can change the numbers, especially when it comes to homicides and shootings. Despite the lower numbers, Tracy has been criticized by some on the City Council, including President “Trippi” Congo, who wants Tracy’s successor to come from within the department’s ranks. Progress made in cutting crime has not always changed the minds of some suburbanites who use social media posts with racial overtones to bash the city, |
