Gun violence in Portland has experienced a notable decline, with recent data indicating a nearly 35% reduction in shootings since Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a gun violence emergency in July 2022. At that time, the city was grappling with an alarming monthly shooting average of 116 incidents. That number has since dropped to an average of 76 shootings per month, a positive trend that city officials are eager to highlight.
City analyst Ryan D’Ambrosio presented the latest statistics at a public meeting on violence prevention, revealing a 22% decline in average monthly shootings from August 2023 to now. This data encompasses any incident involving the discharge of a firearm that was reported to the police. Notably, the decline in shootings aligns with earlier reports from January, which indicated a 22% drop in overall shootings in 2023 compared to the previous year, alongside a significant 37% decrease in gun violence affecting young Black men.
While the data suggests a downward trend, the community remains on edge, particularly after a recent daytime shooting near North Portland’s Dawson Park, a location that has seen multiple violent incidents. These occurrences have raised concerns, especially following several weeks that exhibited an uptick in shootings across the Portland metro area.
D’Ambrosio noted a 38% decrease in Black gun violence victims over the past year, attributing the overall decline in shootings to the success of gun violence prevention programs that have received substantial funding since 2022 through Mayor Wheeler’s office and federal pandemic grants. These programs, which operate under the Office of Violence Prevention, provide outreach and counseling to individuals at risk of gun violence and to victims of such incidents.
Despite the encouraging statistics, the Portland Police Department remains cautious about attributing the decline solely to specific factors. Mayor Wheeler has emphasized the importance of the Office of Violence Prevention’s programming, which has been critical in addressing the root causes of gun violence.
However, as the city faces potential budget shortfalls and dwindling federal funding, the future of these vital programs is uncertain. The looming cuts could jeopardize the progress made in reducing gun violence, raising concerns among community leaders.
In a broader context, the Major Cities Chiefs Association has reported a national downturn in violent crime. In the first half of 2024, Portland recorded a 17% drop in homicides compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, there was a decrease in reported aggravated assaults, robberies, and rapes, reflecting a similar trend seen in many of the country’s largest cities.
Portland saw a record high of 95 homicides in 2022, with firearms involved in 76 of those cases, a trend that mirrored national patterns.
