PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In 2026, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel wants to continue to chip away at property crimes and gun violence, expand the department’s drone program, and focus on the city’s public safety plan, which will be announced later this month.
Homicides and shootings are at a record low. There were 222 homicides in Philadelphia in 2025. The last time the city had fewer than 230 homicide victims was 1966. However, the city has only seen slight reductions in property and violent crimes.
“Those are the crimes that really impact our community — thefts and retail thefts and stolen autos and burglaries and robberies,” said Bethel. “So it’s really, really important for us to really continue to focus on those offenses.”…