Governor Whitmer Announces Michigan Crime Rate Reaches 7-Year Low

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 26, 2026 

Contact: press@michigan.gov   

Governor Whitmer Announces Michigan Crime Rate Reaches 7-Year Low

LANSING, Mich.  – Today, after years of sustained investment in local policy, community violence intervention and efforts to keep illegal guns off the streets, Governor Whitmer announced that violent crime in Michigan is the lowest it’s been in seven years. Murders are down more than 40% since 2021, robberies have been cut in half since the governor took office, and more than 1,000 illegal guns have been taken off the streets as part of Operation Safe Neighborhoods. 

“Every Michigander deserves to feel safe in their home, their neighborhood, and their community,” said Governor Whitmer. “We’ve invested nearly $2 billion in public safety to put more officers on the street, support proven violence intervention programs, and take illegal guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. I’m grateful to the law enforcement officers and community partners who work every day to keep our communities safe.” 

Since 2018, Michigan has invested nearly $2 billion in public safety, including: 

• $100 million for Public Safety Revenue Sharing grants over the past two fiscal years, to provide cities, villages, and townships with additional resources for police services and to support community violence intervention efforts. 

• $25.2 million for community violence intervention grants that work to stop violence before it starts. 

• $2.5 million for the statewide gun violence prevention task force, to save lives, reduce violence, and work to keep Michiganders safe. 

• A 20% pay raise for Michigan State Police Troopers and Sergeants to attract and retain the men and women who keep communities safe. 

The governor has also signed commonsense gun safety laws, including universal background checks and safe storage requirements, extreme risk protection orders and a ban on firearm possession by convicted domestic abusers. 

“Every day, our troopers across Michigan work alongside community partners to make our neighborhoods safer, and it’s yielding results,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police. “Governor Whitmer’s investments have given us the resources to protect Michiganders, take illegal guns off our streets and build real trust with the communities we serve. We’re proud of this progress, and we’re not slowing down.” 

“Every Michigander deserves to feel safe at home, at work, and everywhere in between. That’s why we’ve driven historic investments into evidence-based public safety initiatives,” said state Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), chair of the Senate committee responsible for the Michigan State Police budget. “With this funding, we’re making sure our public safety departments have the training, personnel, and equipment they need to protect our communities. And with crime being at a 7-year low, it’s clear that our approach is working.” 

"The investments we've made in public safety over the last several years, like higher trooper pay and providing sustainable revenue sharing for local departments, are delivering real, tangible results,” said state Representative Denise Mentzer (D-Mt. Clemens). “This seven-year low shows that when Lansing invests directly in public safety, it pays off in dividends for the safety of our communities." 

Nearly one in three reported violent crimes in Michigan involve a firearm. Earlier this year, Governor Whitmer announced over 1,000 illegal guns have been taken off the streets as part of Operation Safe Neighborhoods. Since the operation began, law enforcement officials have conducted more than 11,000 check-ins with felony offenders. During sweeps, officers have also recovered illegal drugs and ammunition. This initiative builds on Governor Whitmer’s MI Safe Communities program that she launched in 2021 to invest in local police, get illegal guns off the street and fund expanded opportunities in jobs, education and the justice system. 

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