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Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Chief of Police Wilfredo Campos today released the Wilmington Police Department’s 2023 Year-End Report, which includes crime statistics for the past year along with data and details about the department’s operations and community initiatives.
 
You can review the department’s 2023 Year-End Report, which includes the year-end CompStat report, here.
 
Crime data reveal a 22% reduction in murders compared with the year prior (14 in 2023 compared to 18 in 2022), making last year’s total the lowest number the City has seen since 2003, when there were 10 murders. The City also reported 14 total murders in 2007.
 
The City experienced a slight increase in shooting incidents (91 incidents in 2023 compared with 83 in 2022), but these totals remain lower than the year-end data for 2020 and 2021. This past year’s total also reflects a 45% reduction when compared to 2017. Additionally, investigators found an increasing trend of isolated incidents leading to shootings and murders over the past year, along with a reduction in group-related violence. When accounting for all shooting incidents and murders in 2023: 

• 36% of incidents could be described as ‘isolated incidents,’ with 10 being domestic-related and 23 being related to altercations, neighbor disputes, or other causes
• 20% of incidents are believed to have been related to narcotics or robberies
• 19% of incidents are believed to have been related to group violence
• The motive in connection with the remaining 25% of incidents remains under investigation

“We are proud to share crime data for the past year, and to highlight the results of our continued efforts to make our City safer for all of our residents and visitors,” said Chief Campos. “Our year-end report includes more data and analysis than ever, and chronicles a wide range of community initiatives and outreach efforts we have put in place to build on relationships with our residents and to support the overall wellness of our community.”
 
While 2023 saw reductions across most crime categories, there was a 9% increase in overall Part 1 crimes when compared to 2022. This is the result of the substantial increase in auto theft incidents (609 in 2023 compared to 365 in 2022) that can be attributed in large part to the national trend of auto thefts affecting Kia and Hyundai products. With that crime category excluded, the city experienced a reduction in overall major crime.  
 
“These results are a testament to the laser focus my administrative team has given to public safety and crime reduction from Day One,” said Mayor Purzycki. “While these numbers are encouraging, our work is far from over. In my remaining year as your Mayor, I and Chief Campos will continue to do everything in our power to build stronger community ties, target known bad actors, remove dangerous firearms from our streets, and make Wilmington the safest City it can be. The people of our great City deserve nothing less.”
 
“I congratulate Chief Campos and the men and women of the Wilmington Police Department, as well as the residents and business owners in neighborhoods all across the City who have worked closely with the WPD to help produce these results,” the Mayor continued. “I also want to express our City’s appreciation to Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, U.S. Attorney David Weiss and to all our other partner agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.”

You can download the WPD 2023 Year-End Report, including the year-end CompStat report, online here.