ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Albuquerque Police Department is reporting a 34% decrease in homicides from 2024 to 2025, marking the city’s lowest homicide total since 2018. APD investigated 63 homicide cases last year involving 65 victims, a 46% drop compared to 2022.
Interim Police Chief Cecily Barker said the department’s expanded investigative capacity and emphasis on supporting families played a key role in the decline. APD added detectives, strengthened investigative teams and increased use of technology throughout 2025.
APD solved 55 of last year’s homicide cases, an 89% clearance rate. Detectives also closed 26 older or cold cases, bringing the total number of cases solved in 2025 to 81 — the highest number of prior‑year and cold-case resolutions in at least ten years. The combined clearance rate reached 129%…