Record homicides in 2023, but Fayetteville reports 10% drop in crime overall
Fayetteville saw a 10% drop in overall crime in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the Fayetteville Police Department.
Chief Kemberle Braden reports the 10% decline in overall crime is a continuation of a seven-year trend in total crimes across the city. One exception to the seven-year drop in crime is homicides, which increased in 2023
Police also shared the following statistics:
- Total arrests in Fayetteville have increased by 32%
- Traffic stops for speeding and reckless driving increased by 23% in 2023
Fayetteville broke its record in 2023 for the number of homicides in a year -- 49. According to Braden, there were 44 homicides in Fayetteville in 2022 and 48 homicides in Fayetteville in 2021.
"Realistically, when I have a homicide, the only thing we can do is go out and try and solve that as best as we can -- to investigate it fully and identify actually who actually committed that homicide," Braden said.
In January, Braden told WRAL News his department is doing everything it can to mitigate the violence.
"We do our best to mitigate," said Braden. "If we see something happening, we realign what we're doing, put officers in an area where we can best respond to the thing that we see going on live."
Despite the drop in overall crime, Fayetteville City Councilman Mario Benavente, a longtime critic of the Fayetteville Police Department, told WRAL News he is not impressed by the numbers.
"All I see is language that is trying to criminalize and dehumanize citizens of this city that are most vulnerable and need the most support," Benavente said. "Right now the city is spending most of tax money really just trying to lock them up."
However, Braden told WRAL News his department is especially focused on community outreach and making young people aware of the consequences of criminal activity.
The Fayetteville Police Department has ramped up initiatives to reach the community, like programs to educate kids about gun violence and help faith leaders better reach the public with hands-on involvement.
Other programs like Stop the Bleed train volunteers to help in emergency situations.
"The Stop the Bleed event was a partnership with the fire department, the hospital and other non-profits within the area to show what it's like to go through a shooting incident from the initial 911 call all the way to that emergency room visit," Braden said.
