How Worcester's innovative police unit helped slash the city's murder rate by 87% in just one year
Two homicides were reported in Worcester last year, the lowest number in 40 years, according to the FBI's Crime Data Explorer .
Shootings caused both homicides, which took place in June, according to a spokesperson for the Worcester Police Department.
The first homicide happened on June 18 on Beacon Street and was related to a domestic dispute, the spokesperson said. No other details were provided.
The second homicide occurred on June 21 at 91 Southgate St. A 26-year-old Worcester man was arrested in connection with the killing of Jason Mayhew , 36, of Worcester.
The suspect, Enrique Antonio Canales-Martinez, was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court in September on a manslaughter charge and was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
Before 2025, the lowest number of homicides that occurred in Worcester was three in 1989, according to the Crime Data Explorer.
The two homicides in 2025 mark a dramatic decrease from 2024, which saw 16 homicides . Before 2024, the highest number of homicides Worcester had was 13 in 1987, 1992, 1994 and 2019, according to the Crime Data Explorer.
The data provided by the explorer goes as far back as 1985, but does not include data from 1990 or 1991.
The decrease in crime is linked to the work of the police department's Crime Gun Intelligence Unit , Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier said in a statement to MassLive. Established in 2024, the unit consists of four officers and a sergeant and is responsible for locating and seizing guns and other weapons classified as illegal by law enforcement.
"This unit follows up on every gun-related crime and ShotSpotter alert, often making arrests weeks or even months later," Saucier said. "They work closely with the ATF, analyzing shell casings to link firearms to multiple crime scenes."
The chief added community programs offered by the Worcester Police Department, such as the Gang Awareness Next Generation summer camp, have helped "young adults make positive life choices."
"In addition, the City of Worcester offers violence reduction programs aimed at addressing youth-related issues," Saucier said. "All of these factors ultimately lead to a decline in crime."
The Worcester County District Attorney's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
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