I watched the mayor and the police commissioner in Baltimore claim that the homicide rate in Baltimore is dropping, yet it seems every day in the newspaper I read about shootings in Baltimore that result in people dying (“3 people dead after multiple shootings in Baltimore,” July 3).
According to online sources, “Among the 35 or so cities on our list with populations that exceed 500,000, Baltimore is by far the most dangerous, according to the city’s violent crime rates as a percentage of corresponding rates for the entire U.S.”
So while the mayor and police commissioner can tout the drop in homicides, the crime rate is still high. Homicides are only one part of the crime rate, and if the mayor is trying to paint Baltimore as a safe place to live, he is failing miserably with regard to the overall crime rate.
According to the police department’s mid-year report released on July 1, “In 2025, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) continues to see double-digit reductions in gun violence, including a 22% decrease in homicides (68 in 2025 v. 88 in 2024) and a 19% decrease in non-fatal shootings (164 in 2025 v. 204 in 2024).”
While that appears significant, the headlines in the last few days show the homicide events continuing. According to the Baltimore Homicides report, we are averaging a homicide a day for July. How safe do people really feel in Baltimore? It depends on who you ask. Still hoping for a safer city for all of us.
— Stas Chrzanowski, Baltimore
Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.