Violent crime continues to fall in the City of Camden halfway through the year, following a record reduction in 2024.

For the first six months of 2025, the Camden County Police Department reports total crime is down 13%, while violent crime declined by another 12% year over year. Additionally, homicides dropped another 30% from this time last year, and instances of aggravated assault with a firearm are down 32%.

According to the CCPD, the 445 violent crimes recorded from January through June this year represent one of the best statistical totals in the last 50 years. The latest numbers continue a streak of successes from the South Jersey city.

The Camden City Police Department recorded 999 total violent crimes in 2012, its first year of operation. That means violent crime is down 55% over the last 13 years. 

In May, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services upheld Camden’s investment grade A rating, earned in 2024, while maintaining its “stable outlook.” Meanwhile in February, Cooper University Health Care started work on its $3 billion expansion.

Officials say the drops in recorded crime have helped foster that progress.

Thanking the department, Director of the Camden County Board of Commissioners Louis Cappelli Jr. described the CCPD’s community policing initiatives as the catalyst to much of the positive change taking place.

“I think it’s important to point out this data for the first six months of the year because it points to an ongoing trend of a safer, stronger city,” he said.

Chief Gabriel Rodriguez called attention to the collaboration at play.

“I believe these numbers are a direct reflection of the bridges we continue to build with the residents and our stakeholders to make Camden a stronger city. Furthermore, I believe we have embarked on a path with the youth of the city to not only get them off the street with the Village Initiative, but to engage an organization, like Hopeworks, that will actively give them workforce development training and place them into full time jobs.”

“Safety is the foundation for the tremendous progress taking place across Camden,” Camden City Mayor Victor Carstarphen said. “It’s what allows families to thrive, businesses to invest, and children to play outside without fear.”

The first four data points in this story reference Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) pulled from July 8 metrics; the remainder come from July 1 data.

According to the CCPD, when recordkeeping for crime began in 1974 the city had 10,724 crime victims. It spiked to a high of 14,685 in 1991. Last year, that figure fell to 3,212.