VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Homicides and shootings are down a significant amount in Virginia Beach according to the latest data.
Shootings are down by more than 28% with a recorded 15 shootings in the Resort City in 2024. In 2023 that number was just above 20.
"Even though they are small numbers, they are big percentages but each one means something to this community and they mean something to our families," said Paul Neudigate, Chief of Police for Virginia Beach.
The statistics come from the first quarter of 2024 and are compared from 2023 to 2024. The number of homicides has dropped by more than 50% from 2023, with only three homicides in the city so far.
Neudigate said each one is still a devastating blow to the community.
"We had seven homicides, we have three at this time," said Neudigate. "That means there are four families out there right now that did not have to go through the pain and the suffering that we did this time last year."
When asked what prompted such a drop in crime, Neudigate credited his officers, new technology and a working relationship with the City's Commonwealth Attorney.
He said several perpetrators of violence are now behind bars.
"I will say without going into confidence about some cases, but we have locked up some folks in the last few months," said Neudigate. "I think right now we are seeing the result of seeing those people incarcerated and not out on our streets to pull the trigger."
Property crimes are also down across the city, but Neudigate said input from the community could help make Virginia Beach a safer place.
VBPD announced the launch of its Keep Virginia Beach Safe program. This is part of the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) initiative, which aims to create a safer community and to make crimes easier to solve.
Residents can register or even integrate their cameras with VBPD to help solve crimes that could have been caught on camera.
Neudigate said they are asking anyone with a camera to consider joining this system.