A Safer Newport News? The Numbers Back It Up

The numbers out of Newport News this week caught my attention, and for once, they’re pointing the right way. The city ended 2025 with 18 homicides, down from 47 in 2023. That is the lowest total we have seen in years, and around here, that matters.

 

Shootings overall, fatal and non-fatal, dropped by nearly 48 percent. Police say it comes from spending more time in neighborhoods and paying closer attention to where problems usually start. Less reacting, more being present. That shift shows up in the data.

 

City leaders were careful not to get ahead of themselves. They made it clear this kind of progress can fade if the focus slips or support dries up. Plans for 2026 are coming later this winter, with an emphasis on keeping the pressure where it has worked.

 

For those of us who live here, the impact feels real. Fewer sirens late at night. More people are out walking. Businesses are feeling steadier about staying open. It is not perfect, and nobody is claiming it is. Still, Newport News feels a little easier to breathe right now.