Public Safety
New Orleans Families are safe
Royce Understands:
Since the 2022 peak, New Orleans has posted two straight years of significant declines, with overall crime down 26% in 2024 versus 2023.
The trend is continuing in 2025: looking at data from May 2025, violent crime was down ~20% year-to-date.
By the numbers, according to the Metropolitan Crime Commission (all year to date as of August 2025):
- Homicides: 17% lower than 2024; 48% lower than 2023
- Carjacking Incidents: 35% lower than 2024; 62% lower than 2023
- Nonfatal Shootings: 16% lower than 2024; 50% lower than 2023
- Armed Robberies: 27% lower than 2024; 55% lower than 2023
- Auto Thefts, along with Vehicle, Business, and Residential burglaries, are all trending down for this year.
Gains have been made, despite a decline in the number of police officers from roughly 1,250 to approximately 800.
An analysis of 2023 data shows that the average pay of the NOPD lags behind average salaries in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Royce Will:
- Focus on an overhaul of the criminal justice system, starting with strong coordination among City Hall, NOPD, OPSO, the DA, courts, and state and federal partners. This collaboration must happen proactively, respond quickly to threats, and ensure cases move efficiently and fairly from incident through adjudication, sentencing, and, when necessary, incarceration.
- Recognize the importance of and danger faced by our police officers by working toward pay increases and additional training.
- Champion programs that make homeownership for our police officers and first responders more accessible and affordable.
- Aggressively invest in programs and facilities to help individuals suffering from mental health and/or substance abuse issues.
- Invest and partner with public and private organizations that provide our most vulnerable youth with the support they need and deserve.
- Continue to support law enforcement by leveraging civilian staff to assist with non-emergency issues, allowing our police officers to focus on preventing and solving crimes to decrease repeat offenders.
