No homicides in Camden this past summer, a first in 50 years

CAMDEN, N.J. (WPHL) — For the first time since the 1970s, the Camden County Police Department (CCPD) reports the City of Camden has recorded zero homicides this past summer.

The announcement comes as the agency recorded a continued decline in violent crime rates in July, and said it was the best statistical half-year totals in the last 50 years.

“Total crime has been dropping in Camden City since it was first recorded in 1974. This summer from June 21 to September 22 CCPD and CCPO recorded zero homicides and as of September 23, the city has seen a 43% decrease in homicides from the same time last year. The city currently stands at eight homicides for all of 2025, and now seven of the eight homicides have led to arrests giving the agency and the Camden County Prosecutor Office a solve rate of 88% in 2025,” officials said in a statement.

Officials credit community partners, the Village Initiative, federal funding, and the Camden County Police Department’s Unity Policing model for the historic decline in crime.

“Growing up in this city and working as a police officer here I don’t ever remember a time period where we went through the entire summer without a homicide,” Camden County Police Chief Gabriel Rodriguez said. “I believe this important marker speaks volumes to the work of the men and women in this department and their ongoing commitment to our community. Furthermore, we still have miles to go and promises to keep to our neighbors throughout the city but make no mistake, this is a big deal and something to be recognized. Additionally, I would be remiss if I didn’t say that one homicide is too many in this city, and we will keep working until we don’t need to stand by a grieving mother, father, and family member. We will continue to work as hard as possible until we are celebrating zero victims not just for the summer, but for the entire year.” 

The Camden County Police Department said that it has reduced homicides by 64% since its first full year of operation in 2014.

You can read more about CCPD’s Unity Policing model here.