Cincinnati is on track to have nearly the lowest number of homicides in at least 20 years, statistics show. And Over-the-Rhine, historically one of Cincinnati's most violent neighborhood, has had no homicides this year.
As of Sept. 22, there had been 40 homicides in the city this year. Since 2006, only 2012 had fewer homicides by this date in the year with 36 homicides.
Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie said in an interview with The Enquirer that 20 years spans the course of many officers' entire careers. Hennie said the three-year average for homicides is down nearly 24%.
Shootings, both fatal and non-fatal, remain at a similar level to 2025, which reported a historic low. Shootings fell 19% in 2025 and were down 41% since the recent peak in 2020.
The 40 homicides occurred in 20 neighborhoods. Millvale and Northside each had four homicides. Three of the four killings in Millvale happened during a single event at the birthday party in June.
Homicides are generally deaths that occur due the actions of another person. The city's homicide statistic includes deaths that may be classified as murder, but also includes self-defense killings and police shootings. It does not include most motor vehicle deaths, even if a person is found to be at fault.
Notably absent from the list of neighborhoods that experienced homicides is Over-the-Rhine. So far in 2026, there have been none in Over-the-Rhine. Last year, the neighborhood recorded nine killings, more than any other neighborhood in the city.
Over-the-Rhine has long been among the neighborhoods with the most killings. In 2008, when the streetcar was being built through the neighborhood, Prosecutor Joe Deters compared the project to "Jurassic Park" due to the violence there.
Cincinnati police data shows there have been at least 14 non-fatal shootings in Over-the-Rhine this year, which puts it among Avondale, Winton Hills and Westwood for the having the most shootings.
Hennie said his police have been working hard to reduce crime and that one of his biggest focuses has been increasing walking patrols, which he says are up 250% compared to last year. He said "old timers" used to know everyone on their beat, but running from call to call in police cruisers has made that more difficult.
Cincinnati has also seen decreases in robberies, burglaries and auto thefts in 2026.
"This is not a Cincinnati police success, this is a city government success," Hennie said. "It's a partnership and collaboration of everyone understanding that public safety is not solely on the Cincinnati police."
Cincinnati police union President Ken Kober said the people getting shot in Cincinnati are also receiving better care before they ever get to a hospital.
He said police officers are carrying tourniquets and administering first aid to victims. He also said Cincinnati Fire Department, which requires all its firefighters to get extensive medical training, provides lifesaving care.
Additionally, Kober also praised the emergency care at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, which has the city's only level 1 trauma center
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Homicides in Cincinnati at a historic low, no killings in OTR so far
