The City of Lincoln’s 2024 public safety report was released during a Thursday morning news conference with Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Police Michon Morrow. Morrow says the annual report highlighted that Part 1 Crime continued to decrease and is at a new 20-year low.
According to the report, Part 1 Crime fell by 7% compared to 2023 and by 10% compared to the five-year average from 2019-2023. The Part 1 categories of violent crime, robbery and all thefts in Lincoln are also down.
“The LPD 2024 Annual Report shows that our commitment to public safety is paying dividends,” says Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. “Today we live in one of the safest capital cities in the country.” LPD responded to 115,785 calls for service in 2024, which is 337 more than 2023. Chief Morrow says despite Lincoln growing by approximately 50,000 residents over the past 20 years, violent and property crimes continue to decrease and violent crime is down by more than 25%.
“I want to reiterate my pride in the work our officers and professional staff do every day to uphold the mission and values of our department. It’s that effort – along with partnerships with organizations, businesses and community members – that keeps Lincoln safe and a great place to call home,” Morrow said.
Mayor Gaylor Baird noted that the clearance rate for homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies and rapes is 53.8%, up nearly 21% from 2023. That marked the highest rate of cleared cases since 2010.
Other 2024 LPD report findings include the following:
- Auto thefts, which includes attempts, were up less than 2% in 2024. Data shows that 45% were left unlocked, 22% had the keys inside and 4% of the stolen vehicles were left running. Nearly 93% of the vehicles stolen in 2024 have been recovered.
- Shootings and shots fired decreased 13.6% in 2024 compared to 2023.
- Larceny from autos decreased 12% compared to 2023 and decreased 30% compared to the five-year average.
- The number of stolen firearms in 2024 was 163, a 29% increase from 2023. 33% of the stolen guns were from vehicles. 87% of those vehicles were unlocked. 30% of the guns stolen in 2024 have been recovered.
- The number of mental health calls increased 5% to 4,162 in 2024, compared to 4,006 in 2023.
Gaylor Baird says the number of LPD applicants hired in 2024 was 29, a 26% increase from 2023.