Louisville mayor touts 22% drop in homicides in 1st report from his 'Safe Louisville' plan

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the city's work to address violent crime led to a 22% drop in homicides and a 28% drop in non-fatal shootings in 2025.

The announcement came in Greenberg's first annual report for Safe Louisville, which he launched in April 2025 to reduce gun violence and homicides by at least 15% per year and improve the community’s perception of safety and trust in police officers. The plan aimed to identify the areas in the city where the most crimes occur and outlined a three-point strategy to deal with it: prevention, intervention and enforcement.

"Public safety is my top priority, and Safe Louisville has Metro Government working more collaboratively and comprehensively than ever before to reduce violent crime," Greenberg said in a news release Tuesday. "We have made encouraging progress, but our work is far from finished. Safe Louisville demands consistent, lasting change because we believe that every person in every Louisville neighborhood deserves to be safe and feel safe."

The initial plan also mentioned the economic impact of violent crime, noting that each fatal shooting "is associated with an estimated cost of $934,115," and a non-fatal shooting is estimated to cost $508,897. The shootings in 2024 cost Louisville taxpayers more than $308 million, according to the document.

The Safe Louisville plan was designed to complement the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Crime Reduction Strategic Plan released earlier in 2025.

"Our officers are helping reduce crime through proactive policing. They are identifying issues, responding to concerns, and often take action before a call for service is ever made. But lasting community safety is the responsibility of all of us working together," LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey said in a news release Tuesday. "It takes engaged residents, strong neighborhoods, businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies with the same goal: a safer, stronger Louisville."

Here are some of the plan's highlights:

Prevention
- Combat the root causes of violence and create peaceful conditions by providing:
  - Public infrastructure
  - Youth education and activities
  - Economic stability
  - Community resource connections
  - Community trust in police
  - Common sense gun legislation
Intervention
- Stop potential shooters before they commit crimes by implementing:
  - Violence intervention initiatives
  - Conflict resolution alternatives
  - Trauma and reentry services
Enforcement
- Ensure laws are followed by providing:
  - Law enforcement support
  - Public order
  - State and federal partnerships
  - Justice system transparency

The plan is administered by Misty Wright, executive director of Community Safety.

"The numbers show that our coordinated efforts are working," Wright said in a news release Tuesday. "Now, we will continue working with everyone in our community to help continue the momentum. From actively taking part in work through non-profits or Louisville Metro Government programs, to sharing the word about our city’s progress with your neighbors, we can all do our part to make our community safer."