As we look back on 2025, San Francisco residents have something meaningful to celebrate. The year brought landmark improvements across multiple public safety metrics, representing some of the most significant gains the city has achieved in decades.
The headlines speak for themselves. San Francisco recorded 28 homicides in 2025, the lowest number since 1954. That’s a 20% decrease from 2024 and marks a historic moment: the city’s homicide rate hasn’t been this low in 70 years.
Even more remarkably, the SFPD’s Homicide Unit achieved a 125% clearance rate, meaning detectives closed more cases than were opened, solving several cases from previous years. Compare that to the national average of 50-60%, and you get a sense of the exceptional work happening here.
Overall crime in San Francisco dropped 25% in 2025, with violent crime down 18% and property crime down 27%. The SFPD made 6,683 arrests as part of coordinated enforcement efforts, including 735 arrests for drug dealing.
And on our streets, traffic safety improved dramatically. San Francisco saw 25 traffic deaths in 2025, down from 43 the previous year (42% decrease!). Pedestrian deaths dropped 33%. While one fatality is always one too many, these numbers represent the largest year-over-year improvement since the city adopted its Vision Zero commitment more than a decade ago.
These results didn’t happen by accident. They reflect sustained commitment and coordination across agencies and with community partners.
“Our officers have been doing a tremendous job fighting crime and keeping San Francisco safe,” said Police Chief Derrick Lew. “I want to thank our local, state, and federal partners for working closely together on this vital mission.”
Mayor Daniel Lurie echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the work: “These historic reductions in crime show what’s possible when we focus relentlessly on public safety and give our officers the tools to succeed. I’m grateful to the men and women of the SFPD and all of our partners who are delivering real results for San Franciscans, even while operating short-staffed.”
On the traffic safety front, Mayor Lurie added: “Since day one, I’ve made clear that safety is non-negotiable in San Francisco, and the numbers are clear that our streets are getting safer.”
What makes these improvements possible is partnership. The 2025 crime reductions resulted from close work between the SFPD, the Mayor’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Office. On traffic safety, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the Department of Public Health, and the SFPD collaborated on a coordinated, data-driven effort to identify and address risks more quickly.
These agencies also worked with community organizations, nonprofit partners, and residents who care about neighborhood safety. It’s the kind of whole-of-community approach that produces real, lasting change.
As San Francisco moves through 2026, one thing is clear: when the city invests in public safety, when agencies work together, and when residents support neighborhood-based solutions, progress is possible. The 2025 numbers prove it.
SEE ALSO:
- San Francisco has Lowest Homicide Rate in 70 Years, Declines across All Major Crime Categories in 2025 | San Francisco Police Department
- San Francisco traffic deaths lowest since 2018, city says | KRON TV
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