Homicide rates have been a concern in Mississippi’s capital city for quite some time. But Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade is hoping to reverse a longstanding stigma through a reduction of violent crime.
On Monday, Wade took the podium at City Hall to give an update on the capital’s current homicide situation. During his time behind the microphone, Wade touted that Jackson’s homicide numbers, at this point of the year, are on a steep decline from where they were last year.
The police chief reported a total of 22 homicides to date this year, down from 44 by mid-May of 2024. To complement the 50% drop in slayings, Wade also lauded his department’s efforts, noting that 20 of the 22 homicides this year have been solved. The 91% homicide solvability rate accomplished thus far in 2025 far surpasses the national average of 58.6%, giving Jackson residents hope that meaningful change is occurring.
A large part of this success story has been a combination of additional manpower and law enforcement leaders avoiding dramatic spats between city officials and state lawmakers over the expansion of Capitol Police. Since Wade took over as top cop, his department has hired over 40 new officers. In the meantime, the boundaries of Capitol Police have expanded, putting more law enforcement on the ground throughout different parts of the city.
Despite public outcry from a number of Jackson residents and a litany of local elected officials about the process by which the legislature and Gov. Tate Reeves expanded the state-run police force, Wade and Capitol Police Chief Bo Luckey have embraced a professional partnership for the betterment of public safety.
“We’ve been able to cut the homicide numbers in half due to the hard work of the men and women of JPD, due to our working collaboration with our state and federal partners, and with our working collaboration with the community,” Wade said. “Last year, when I talked about the homicide numbers, I said that I wanted to cut the numbers in half. We now see that pattern, that goal, and that vision are coming to fruition. We’re now getting back in line for a city our size.”
In 2021, Jackson had a nation-leading 99.5 homicides per 100,000 people. The total death toll that year from slayings was 160, and multiple national outlets referred to the municipality as “America’s murder capital.” Since then, homicides have dropped. However, Jackson has continued to eclipse 100 murders annually for the past three years, and the rate of these killings remains among the highest nationally.
As homicide-related deaths seem to be cooling, though, the city is looking ahead to brighter days on the horizon. At 22 homicides through more than one-third of the calendar year, Jackson is on pace to have its lowest murder total since 2019, when 82 were slain. The results may be proving strong thus far, but Wade says now is not the time to take a victory lap.
“My prayers, thoughts, and condolences go out to the families of those who have lost loved ones in the city of Jackson,” Wade said. “I wish that I had the power to eradicate murders in the city of Jackson. I do not.”
Although Wade cannot wave a magic wand over the city and eliminate a homicide problem that has been brewing for decades, he vows to continue utilizing good police work through his department to create a culture of law and order in a community desperate for peace.
