Violent crime fell sharply across the largest U.S. cities in early 2026, extending a nationwide decline that began after the pandemic-era crime spike. Why it matters: Data from 67 major U.S. law enforcement agencies show violent crime fell across major categories during the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025. The declines show up across every major region, suggesting a systemic, nationwide trend. The quarterly reports collected by the Major Cities Chiefs Association have been a good measure of trends that are reflected in the annual FBI crime data released in the fall. By the numbers: Homicides dropped 17.7%. Robberies fell 20.4%. Rapes declined 7.2%. Aggravated assaults decreased 4.8%. Zoom in: Some of the nation's biggest cities posted especially dramatic homicide declines in the first three months of 2026. Among those that saw sizable percentage drops in homicide were Washington, D.C. (64.7%), Philadelphia (54%), San Diego (50%) and Memphis (34.4%).…