Homicides, Major Crime Fell Across San Francisco In 2025: 'A Real Turning Point For Our City'

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco leaders are touting crime data as proof that the city has gotten significantly safer in the past year — at least on paper.

San Francisco Police Department officials stated that the city experienced "historic" declines in crime in 2025 across all major crime categories, including violent crime and homicides.

Homicides decreased by 20% from 2024, when there were 35 reported across San Francisco. This year, there were 28 homicides, the lowest number since 1954, according to the SFPD.

The SFPD Homicide Unit also had a "125% clearance rate" this year, making arrests in 34 homicides, the department said. The clearnce rate is made possible by arrests made in 2025 for cases that occurred in the past.

Shootings, violent crime, robberies, car break-ins and burglaries also saw significant declines.

SFPD Chief Derrick Lew praised his department in a statement Friday morning, saying they're doing a "tremendous job fighting crime and keeping San Francisco safe."

Lew added that his department is committed to working with federal, local and state partners to ensure San Francisco "remains one of the safest cities in the world."

The announcement comes after a year where city leaders battled against Trump, who, in October 2025, called the city a "mess" and threatened to deploy the National Guard to combat crime.

A series of tweets by Elon Musk, where he said bringing the National Guard to Downtown San Francisco was the only solution to fix what looked like a "drug zombie apocalypse," only added fuel to the fire. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff also said in an interview with the New York Times that bringing the National Guard to San Francisco would help tackle public safety issues.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie pushed back against those statements, emphasizing that city leaders and public safety officials had been working hard to reduce crime rates, with a focus on fighting drug trafficking.

On Monday, Lurie said on social media that 2025 marked "a real turning point for our city," highlighting that crime was down in San Francisco and that businesses were returning.

"As we begin the year ahead, we’re not slowing down," Lurie said. We’ll keep building on this momentum, improving everyday life for our residents and working toward a more affordable, vibrant, and resilient San Francisco. And we’re just getting started."

SFPD officials attributed the crime reduction to the department's "years-long community engagement and violence reduction efforts" that helped build ties with the community across the city. This, authorities said, has helped build more trust and cooperation between community members and law enforcement.

Officials said automated license plate readers, drones, public safety cameras and other technology have been critical in helping officers solve crimes.

That, along with a district attorney's office committed to holding people accountable, has helped deter crime, making would-be offenders reconsider their actions before carrying out any crime, police said.

"Residents and visitors deserve to feel protected, and that means accountability alongside meaningful support for justice-involved individuals struggling with substance use and mental health challenges that drive criminal behavior," San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto said Tuesday. "While declining crime statistics show our strategies are working, success is ultimately measured by whether people feel welcome, safe, and confident that our businesses and communities can thrive."