Policing

New York City has fewest shootings ever last year

New York City recorded its fewest number of shooting incidents in 2016 and narrowly missed setting a new record low for homicides since comparable record keeping began more than two decades ago, even as officers make fewer low-level arrests and greatly reduced their use of stop and frisk.

Department officials said they've found the right combination of technology and data collection, police strategies and community engagement.

"This is what 21st century policing looks like, it's data driven, it's smarter, it's more effective," said Chief Dermot Shea, deputy commissioner for operations. "And here's the important part: It works."

According to data released Wednesday, the city had 335 homicides in 2016. The lowest since comparable record keeping for murders began in the 1960s was 333 in 2014. The all-time high was 2,245 in 1990.