New Oakland police data shows crime trending downward in 2025, but some critics are skeptical

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- When it comes to crime, the City of Oakland is boosting double-digit drops in major categories.

"It is all-hands-on-deck trying to prevent crimes from occurring. And hold those accountable who commit crimes," says Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee.

Oakland Lee says it's "remarkable" the gains Oakland is making in terms of fighting crime.

According to latest data from the Oakland Police Department, homicides are down 22% compared to last year. Vehicle thefts dropped 65% compared to the average over the last three years.

Burglaries declined 42% and robberies are down 47%, both compared to the past three years.

"If you are a victim of a crime, of course, you don't feel it," says Mayor Lee. "And so we want people to believe the data. And this is the data from year-to-year."

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"What I do know is that our systems are working better together," says Oakland Council Member Carrol Fife, who represents District 3.

Fife says the city has been more effective in working with CHP and OPD. And that budget priorities given to 911 operators, dispatch and to the Department of Violence Prevention for programs like Ceasefire, are also working.

"Violence prevention actually works. The individuals who are responsible for some of the more violent crime, often earn other income from break-ins, from bipping and all these other things. So, when you address the people who are at the root cause of engaging in these crimes, there is this ripple effect," says Fife.

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But some critics are a skeptical about the data.

"It is very hard to capture that data because we really don't know who is reporting crime and who is not," says Sergeant Huy Nguyen, with the Oakland Police Department, and who is also president of the Oakland Police Union.

Nguyen agrees crime is trending downwards. But he says, overall, crime is still too high. And he argues, fewer people are reporting crimes which maybe another reason why crime stats are going down.

"I also hear that our Latino community members fear that reporting crime could possibly cause harm to them. And that's not true at all. We are responding to crime. We do not do any immigration enforcement," explains Sgt. Nguyen.

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Nenna Joiner recently closed two brick and mortar businesses in downtown Oakland. She says regardless of the data, certain communities continue to face obstacles.

"People who are actually inundated with a lot of the crimes, are finding dismay with the city and its systems, and not being able to respond," says Joiner.

City leaders may be celebrating the drop in crime, but acknowledge more needs to be done.