POUGHKEEPSIE — Violent crime in the city dropped 25 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data released by the Poughkeepsie Police Department. The department, which includes 86 sworn officers, a captain and a chief, attributed the decline to new policing strategies and increased staffing.
The number of murders in the city remained steady at three in both 2024 and 2025. Reports of rape dropped from 20 in 2024 to 15 in 2025, a 25 percent decrease. Overall, violent crimes fell from 226 in 2024 to 170 in 2025. Property crimes also declined by 37 percent during the same period.
Chief Wilson told Mid-Hudson News that the widespread reduction in crime is the result of several components coming together. “Our officers deserve most of the credit. We have implemented procedures and programs designed to help reduce crime, and our officers have embraced the technology.” Wilson spoke of the launch of the Pathfinder program, a computer-based patrol management platform that monitors shifting criminal “hotspots” and allows the administration to redirect police patrols, making them more visible and ready to respond when called.
Chief Wilson said improved staffing levels within the department have also helped reduce crime. “We’ve got more cops than we have had in several years, and the improved staffing levels certainly help the officers do their jobs effectively,” he said. “Having fully staffed shifts of dedicated cops goes a long way to keeping criminals at bay.”
City 911 dispatchers answered 192,000 calls in 2025. Of those, 36,000 required some type of action and 16,000, or more than 43 per day, required a police response.
Crime 2024 2025 %Change from year to year
Homicide 3 3 0%
Rape 20 15 -25%
Robbery 39 31 -21%
Agg Assault 164 121 -26%
Burglary 91 63 -31%
Larceny 496 302 -39%
M/V Theft 37 31 -16%
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