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Fresno Police Report Drop in Violent and Property Crime During First Half of 2026
Fresno saw improvements in public safety during the first six months of 2026, with both violent and property crime declining compared to the same period last year, according to Police Chief Mindy Casto.
Overall violent crime decreased by 5 percent during the first half of 2026 compared to the first half of 2025, while property crime fell 4 percent over the same period. Casto credited focused enforcement strategies, community engagement efforts, and data-driven policing as key contributors to the reductions.
The department also reported significant progress on traffic safety, with traffic-related fatalities declining by 23 percent compared to this time last year. Casto attributed the drop to increased traffic enforcement, public awareness campaigns at community events and during driver safety operations, and partnerships aimed at reducing dangerous driving behaviors.
One area where the city saw an increase was homicides, with two more occurring in 2026 than during the same period in 2025. However, Casto noted that the department has achieved a 100 percent clearance rate for homicides this year through arrests made in multiple 2026 investigations and prior year cases. Several 2026 murder cases have arrestable suspects or promising leads for solving them, she said.
Casto thanked the community for its trust and cooperation, emphasizing that public involvement is essential to sustaining the positive trends. “While we are encouraged by the progress reflected in these numbers, our work is far from done. We will continue to prioritize safety, accountability, and strong partnerships as we move forward through the rest of 2026,” she said.
The Breakdown
- Violent crime down 5% in first half of 2026 compared to same period in 2025
- Property crime down 4% over the same period
- Traffic fatalities down 23% compared to this time last year
- Homicides up by 2 cases, but department has 100% clearance rate for 2026 homicides
- Chief credits focused enforcement, community engagement, and data-driven policing
What This Means for You
As a Fresno resident, you’re statistically less likely to be a victim of violent crime, property crime, or a traffic fatality than you were last year, according to these mid-year statistics. However, the increase in homicides shows overall violent crime still includes serious cases, even as investigators report success in solving them. Chief Casto emphasized that public involvement is essential to sustaining the positive trends.
