The Body Count

1963:548 murders

1964:636

(Photo: Bob Gomel/Getty Images)

1965: 634
First blackout is generally peaceful.

1966: 654

1967:746

1968:986
Columbia riots.

1969:1,043

1970:1,117

(Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images)

1971:1,466
Attica uprising.

1972:1,691

1973:1,680
Rockefeller drug laws enacted.

1974:1,554

1975:1,645

1976:1,622

(Photo: Sahm Doherty/Getty Images)

1977:1,557
Koch elected on pro-death-penalty platform. Blackout II, this time with riots. Son of Sam.

1978:1,504

1979:1,733

1980:1,814

1981:1,826

1982:1,668

1983:1,622
Michael Stewart killing.

(Photo: Bernard Gotfryd/Getty Images)

1984:1,450
Crack arrives in NYC. Eleanor Bumpurs killing.

1985:1,384

1986:1,582

1987:1,672

1988:1,896
Tompkins Square riots.

1989:1,905

(Photo: Stephen Ferry/Liason/Getty Images)

1990:2,245
Murder rate peaks. NYPD starts major hiring spree. Bratton takes over Transit Police.

1991:2,154
Subway crime drops.

1992:1,995
Dinkins appoints Ray Kelly police commissioner.

1993:1,946

1994:1,561
Rudy takes command! And Bratton goes atop NYPD.

1995:1,177

1996:983
Bratton’s out; Safir is in.

1997:770

1998:633

(Photo: Richard Harbus/Getty Images)

1999:671
Amadou Diallo killed.

2000:673
Safir out, Kerik in.

2001:649

(Photo: Linda Spillers/AP)

2002:587
Bloomberg takes office, brings back Ray Kelly. Street Crimes Unit disbanded.

2003:597

2004:570

2005:539

2006:596
Uptick in murder rates. Have we hit bottom?

2007:494

Related:

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