Akron Mayor Shammas Malik says the number of crimes for the first half of 2025 is “heading in the right direction”, which while important; “doesn’t mean we still don’t have work to do”.

During a press conference, Malik shared some of the numbers, which you can see and hear in the following video, and see on the spreadsheet image (below).

Some of the highlights include:

• The number of murders from January to June of this year compared to last is unchanged, at 12.
• Overdose deaths have dropped dramatically, from 52 to 28 compared to the same time next year, and are even lower than in 2023, when there were 83 by the end of June.
• There were about half as many non fatal adult shootings this year compared to last; 39, compared to 79. The number of non-fatal juvenile shootings–four–is one less than last year, though there was one fatal juvenile shooting this year.
• With regard to police use of force incidents; there have been 136 this year compared to 158 last year; a 14 percent decrease, but this year more officers got injured during such incidents–16–compared to 13 last year.
• The number of shootings and shots fired calls has slightly increased this year compared to last–six more overall (829 total)–a one percent increase.
• One thing to note though, is that the number of reported shootings into habitations, is on the rise, with 88 this year compared to 72 last year–a 16 percent increase–though lower than in 2023, when there were 122 such incidents.