Mayor Bill de Blasio is on the hot seat in the face of a spike in murders and shootings. He says the city is still extraordinarily safe—and insists the police department can turn things around. NY1's Grace Rauh filed this report.

These are not the statistics a mayor wants to see at the start of June—before the traditional crime spike of summer even begins. Murders are up nearly 20 percent so far this year compared to the first five months of 2014. Shootings are on the rise as well, up by nearly nine percent.

"There is no more important priority for me than public safety and every day I review the numbers and every day we are working with the NYPD to make sure our strategies and deployment are having the maximum impact," de Blasio said Tuesday.

The crime numbers, first released by the police department on Monday, prompted the mayor to make some unscheduled remarks about public safety in the city at the start of a bill signing ceremony at City Hall. It gave him an opportunity to emphasize another crime statistic, which has not gotten as much attention.

"Overall crime in New York City is down 6.6 percent. This is very important for the people of this city to understand. Overall crime is down 6.6 percent," said Mayor de Blasio.

The mayor says increase in shootings and murders are happening in a small number of police precincts and are primarily due to gang and crew-related activity.

It is a sensitive subject for de Blasio. He campaigned for City Hall as a police reformer, promising to end what he called the "stop-and-frisk era." Critics charged that public safety would unravel on his watch. 

"I have faith in the men and women of the NYPD. I know they will turn the tide this time just like they did last year," the mayor says.

In 2014, the city's murder rate was at a record low.

The latest crime figures are also drawing attention to a City Council proposal to add 1,000 additional police officers to the NYPD. Council members say more officers on the street will help keep the city safe.

"It is clear that while the officers are doing amazing work, more officers would be able to keep us safer. I don't think anyone really disputes that notion," says Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.

The mayor, though, does not appear to have been convinced.