City Leaders Tout Major Drop in Crime in Albuquerque

Albuquerque –

Today, November 10, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and Chief Harold Medina held a press conference stating “statistics show citywide crime down in every major category while arrests surge 26%.”

Mayor Keller wore an APD wind breaker and opened to the media:

“First off, just want to talk about timing a little bit. We went through our half year stats, appropriately, when those were ready. We’re doing these stats because it’s when they’re ready hit. It’s not time for the campaign. And if any of you want any. You know, slight irony, of course, I would have liked to show these stats much, much sooner,” said Keller.

Keller spoke for a total of 3 minutes and 30 seconds before leaving the press conference to an undisclosed event. Chief Medina and APD Communications Director Gilbert Gallegos finished the press conference and fielded questions from the media.

The Albuquerque Police Department released its third quarter crime statistics, showing significant decreases across every major crime category and sharp increases in arrests. Per city officials, the data confirms that Albuquerque’s crime reduction is outpacing national trends, a testament to focused enforcement, strategic policing, and strong community collaboration.

According to data provided to the media by the City of Albuquerque, violent crime has dropped considerably in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Aggravated assaults are down 13%, robberies down 22%, and rapes down 15%. Shootings with injury have decreased by 39%, and homicides are down 32% year-to-date. Property crime is also continuing its downward trend. Burglary and breaking and entering are down 13%, vandalism down 25%, larceny/theft down 8%, and motor vehicle theft has seen one of the largest declines at 40%.

On the enforcement side, APD officials claim that felony arrests are up 26%, from 3,807 in 2024 to 4,790 this year. Felony warrant arrests are also up 8%, reflecting APD’s proactive approach and increased field activity across the city.

Per a document handed out to the media, Mayor Keller and APD Chief Medina claims “When compared to national averages, Albuquerque is leading in nearly every category.” It goes on to say that homicides nationwide have fallen 19%, compared to Albuquerque’s 26% decrease. Rapes are down 6% nationally and 15% locally, while robberies dropped 19% across the U.S. and 22% in Albuquerque.”

It’s important to note that the homicide total reported by the APD only includes negligent homicides investigated by their own agency and excludes justifiable homicides (10) and fatal-officer involved shootings (10). Additionally, this total does not include homicides investigated in Bernalillo County by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, or University of New Mexico Police Department. The number we provide is a combination of all these agencies and has been verified/checked with the homicide number the Officer of the Medical Investigator has on file for Bernalillo County. The OMI does not differentiate between negligent homicide and justifiable homicide.

It’s also worth mentioning that in cases where a person chooses not to press charges, no official report is filed and the incident is not documented as a crime. This year, officers have responded to several shootings and stabbings in which the victims—often individuals experiencing homelessness—declined to pursue charges against the person responsible.

“We’re seeing real, measurable progress,” said APD Chief Harold Medina. “Our officers are working tirelessly, and the data shows their efforts are making a difference. Albuquerque is leading the nation in crime reduction, and that’s something our entire community should take pride in.”

“Albuquerque’s continued drop in crime shows what’s possible when we combine smart policing, strong leadership, and community partnership,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We’ve focused on getting back to basics, more officers on the streets, strategic enforcement, technology, and tackling root causes.”

Over the past several years, APD has implemented a combination of targeted operations, technology-driven policing, and data-informed strategies to address violent and property crimes. The department continues to emphasize accountability and transparency as it builds on this momentum.

City of Albuquerque officials say crime is down — do residents agree?