CHICAGO (CBS) — The numbers are in, and overall crime is dropping in Chicago.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy says in a memo to Mayor Rahm Emanuel that overall crime is down more than 8 percent from last year.

The new numbers did not include the number of murders, which are about 20 percent higher this year.

There were reductions in burglary, vehicle theft and sexual assaults.

McCarthy said it was the biggest drop in overall crime in the past two decades.

He said adding more officers on the streets have helped as well as partnering with community organizations to get a better understanding of trends in neighborhoods.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports



At a graduation ceremony for new police officers and sergeants, McCarthy acknowledged the numbers of shootings and homicides are up this year, but he said lately the numbers seemed to be flattening out.

He said there are still too many shootings and murders, but he found some solace in the big picture.

“If you look, the trend line has been going in the right direction since earlier in the year. So those things that we were doing to reduce crime are obviously working,” he said. “The things that we implemented in March and April to reduce violence are also working, but it’s not an exact science. We’re not going to win every single day.”

McCarthy said police districts in Englewood and other neighborhoods that have exemplary commanders have reduced street violence, even without more resources.