Ceasefire is a nationally recognized strategy designed to reduce shootings and homicides, decrease incarceration and recidivism, and build positive police/community relationships. Ceasefire is a community-police partnership that focuses solely on preventing shootings and gun violence incidents that have a high likelihood of retaliation. Portland Police Bureau making arrests in homicide cases is an important goal in its own right, and is also a central goal of the city's Ceasefire strategy.

Because of the very high rate of reporting of homicide cases, and the seriousness with which they are investigated, this is an accurate measure of the city's investigations and arrests of homicide suspects.

It is important to note however, that there are many factors which contribute to the Portland Police Bureau's ability to clear homicide cases, including willingness of witnesses to talk or testify, motive and connections between the victim and perpetrator, etc.

The FY 2023-24 data show that arrests were made (or cases otherwise closed) in 65% of cases, up from 35% in FY 2022-23.

Clearance rates are calculated by taking the count of cases reported (in this case homicides) divided by the number of cases cleared (either by making an arrest or sometimes for other reasons like the suspect dying before they can be arrested or tried). Because cases arising in previous years can be cleared in the current year, it is possible for the percentage to be higher than 100%.

This metric does not take into account the rate of prosecution, or the prosecution success rate, which are handled by the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.

Find more information on the Portland Ceasefire firearm violence reduction strategy at Ceasefire's website. PPB's Gun Violence Trends Report has additional data.