Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter says the city's murder rate is at an all-time low. "That's just one part of an overall drop in violent crime here in Bridgeport," Porter told News 12 Monday. "We have seen a 60% drop in violent crime overall, with murders decreasing from 17 in 2021 to just two in the first half of this year," Porter said. Non-fatal shootings and "shots fired" incidents also saw significant reductions, Porter said. Mayor Joe Ganim credits the drop in violent crime to factors such an increased police presence, more officers living in the city - and a record number of gun buybacks and enforcement efforts. "Crime is down 60% and that's amazing, but it's just as hard to keep the murder rate down, and the other figures down, as it is to get them there - so we have a lot of hard work ahead of us," Ganim said.