PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria said back in January he would take any downward movement in the city’s crime statistics when he released preliminary data.
The final report on the crimes in the city seems to bear that out for the most part.
Peoria Police’s annual report indicates that while many of the major categories of crime declined last year, total crime increased four percent from the year before — 4,972 in 2022, versus 4,800 in 2021.
That number, however, is still lower than the high water mark of 6,449 in 2011, and the more recent high water mark of just under 6,271 in 2019.
Violent crimes increased 11 percent, but murders and shots fired were down.
Crimes against property were up one percent, but accounted for 74 percent of all crimes reported. 26 percent of all crimes reported were considered to be violent crime.
2021 was a record year for homicides in Peoria with 34. There were only 25 homicides last year, and only four so far this year.
CLICK HERE for the full 2022 report (PDF).
