Homicides have dropped by 54%, with just 11 reported so far this year, 13 fewer than at the same point last year.
Assistant Police Chief Todd Joyce attributes much of this progress to advances in technology.
"We have to get through the end of the year. Are they progressing in the right direction? Absolutely," Joyce said.
Now more than halfway through the year, Fayetteville police leaders say the numbers are promising.
Violent crimes, including aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, robbery, and burglary, are all down.
BY THE NUMBERS
January - June 2025
- 24 homicide incidents and 26 victims
- 27 rape incidents
- 323 aggravated assaults
- 807 burglary crimes
- 1,743 larceny crimes
- 343 motor vehicle thefts
- 98 robberies
January - June 2026
- 11 homicide incidents and 14 victims
- 19 rape incidents
- 312 aggravated assaults
- 784 burglary crimes
- 1,780 larceny crimes
- 262 motor vehicle thefts
- 77 robberies
Overall crime in the city has seen a 1% increase.
Joyce points to technology as a key factor in the improvements, specifically highlighting its role in a recent high-profile arrest.
"We were able to use technology with our license plate readers to be able to track the very dangerous individual and get them into custody in a very short amount of time before they continue in that manner and hurt someone else."
While the data is encouraging, Joyce cautions that there is still work to be done.
Two of the 11 homicides this year are alleged to have been committed by young people, a troubling increase, as there were none at this time last year.
"You hope you can reduce that, but it takes everyone. It's not something that the police can do by themselves," Joyce said.
That's where community organizations step in. Georgeanna Pinckney, Executive Director of Greater Life of Fayetteville, leads a nonprofit that provides intervention programs for young people and supports parents.
"We do a suspension program called Suspension Restoration. If the kid gets suspended from school, we, under three days, we ask the parents to bring them to us, let us work with them, just give them different tools and ideas not to get suspended again," Pinckney explained.
Known as "Ms. G" by her students, Pinckney has worked in the community for more than two decades.
She said she believes that parental involvement is crucial, especially when it comes to gun safety.
"Some of the parents own weapons. They don't lock it up or if they do, the kid is there seeing what the combination is. And I think that's a part where the parents really have to step up their game," she said.
Assistant Chief Joyce agrees that partnerships with nonprofits like Ms. G's are vital.
Meanwhile, property crimes, including motor vehicle theft, have dropped by 23% in Fayetteville.
Joyce credits both people and technology for this decline.
"Our most valuable resources are people who are making contact with those victims, who are there spending countless hours investigating those cases. But we also have to give credit to a lot of technology that we have."
With more than 60 automated license plate readers in place, Fayetteville police say technology continues to be a leading factor in reducing crime.
ABC11 is tracking crime and safety across Fayetteville
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