The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel announced on November 26th from Washington D.C. that the national murder rate has seen a double-digit decrease compared to last year.
“I am pleased to announce that one of our key goals this year has clearly been reducing the nationwide murder rate,” Patel said in an exclusive interview with Jan Jekielek, host of the “American Thought Leaders” program on The Epoch Times. The interview is scheduled to air at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on November 29th.
Exclusive interview link with FBI Director Patel:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/exclusive-kash-patel-talks-china-fentanyl-violent-networks-and-burn-bags-5950516
“The FBI will release murder rate data in December, which will set a modern historic low record with a double-digit reduction.”
According to data released by the Department of Justice in August, the murder rate in 2024 was 5 per 100,000 people, a 15.8% decrease from the previous year and approximately 1% higher than 2015.
Statistics show that around 17,000 people in the United States were murdered in 2024, a decrease of about 15% from the previous year but an increase of nearly 7% from 2015.
Patel mentioned that more detailed data for this year will be released next month.
He praised the efforts of FBI agents involved in investigations for enhancing public safety. Since January, FBI operations have resulted in the arrest of 30,000 individuals, including 25,000 charged with violent offenses.
“Thus far this year, the number of violent criminals we have arrested is more than double that of previous years, with December not even included yet,” he added.
The FBI Director directed the agency’s efforts towards combating criminal organizations that harm children, including the notorious 764 network based in Texas.
He announced that arrests targeting this criminal organization increased by 490% compared to the previous year.
“This is our commitment to combat these despicable criminals. We will not cease our actions until we have safeguarded the safety of our communities,” Patel stated.
He also highlighted other actions taken by the FBI to protect minors, including rescuing about 6,000 children this year, a 25% increase from 2024.
FBI agents have prioritized dismantling foreign intelligence networks involved in illicit activities in the United States.
Compared to last year, the number of spies arrested by the FBI has increased by 40%, including spies from countries such as China, Russia, and Iran.
“We have effectively disrupted their plans: we have expelled these spies from our intelligence system, brought them to justice, and put them behind bars. This is a powerful demonstration of a strong deterrent to the public,” Patel remarked.
As the head of the FBI, Patel noted that the improved efficiency and productivity are outcomes of the agency’s restructuring.
When Patel took office, around 12,000 of the approximately 37,000 FBI agents were stationed near the FBI headquarters in Washington D.C.
“I felt that FBI personnel were overly concentrated in what we call the national capital region, which is the area surrounding Washington D.C.,” Patel said.
He redistributed personnel to offices nationwide and increased the deployment of 1,000 agents in the field.
According to Patel, with more resources allocated to offices across the country, the FBI can better manage day-to-day operations and identify areas needing attention.
“The results speak for themselves. We will continue to push forward with this work,” Patel stated.
He mentioned that encouraging reports from the front lines have been received positively. “This cultural shift has been widely welcomed within the industry, and they are the only audience I care about.”
“I don’t care how the media perceives us, or how they distort reports claiming we are weakening the FBI’s capabilities,” Patel concluded.