Rochester, N.Y. — The number of shootings and homicides in the city dropped in 2022. Police Chief David Smith and Mayor Malik Evans said Wednesday there's still much more work to do, but they believe their efforts are making a difference.

2022 started with the murder of Rochester City School District student Julius Greer just one day after Evans took office.

"We know that it was tough year last year, losing (Officer) Anthony Mazurkiewicz, (and) right in the beginning of last year, losing 14-year-old Julius Greer, and the many other homicide victims that we lost throughout that year," Evans said. "Many of the folks that we lost, I consider it to be senseless."

Greer was one of 76 homicide victims in 2022, down from 84 in 2021.

Smith said the losses can't be quantified in numbers alone, but the city is making progress in reducing violence.

"To get up here and try and summarize the year 2022 in 10-15 minutes, a couple of soundbites, it’s a daunting task when you think about everything our community went through in 2022," Smith said.

The city saw a significant decrease in shootings, down from 419 in 2021 to 351 in 2022.

"I am very gratified, not satisfied, but gratified, that shootings are down," Evans said. "And although we are not popping any champagne to celebrate, it is important to note that fact."

Evans cited the city's previously implemented strategy of prevention, intervention and suppression. That includes reaching young people before they resort to violence and efforts to get illegal guns off the streets before crimes are committed.

Some of those intervention efforts are now underway in the East End, after a series of crimes — including a fatal shooting Saturday night.

"Every month, we are meeting with the entertainment district leaders to address public safety concerns, develop standards fitted for police in the nightlife environment," Smith said. "We continue to build and foster relationships to make the entertainment district a safer place."

Police said 44 of the 76 homicides from 2022 are closed. Greer's murder remains unsolved.

You can read the city's full 2023 safety plan below.