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Duarte public safety director reports nearly 9% drop in Part 1 crimes; deputies, cameras, neighborhood watch credited
Summary
Public Safety Director Briseeda told the council that Part 1 crimes fell about 8.9% in August 2025 vs. August 2024, with declines in robberies and burglaries; aggravated assaults concentrated along Huntington Drive drew targeted patrol responses and cooperation with a regionwide camera network yielded an arrest after a knife-point robbery.
DuartePublic Safety Director Briseeda reported to the City Council on Aug. 26 that Part 1 crimes are down about 8.9% year over year for August 2025 compared with August 2024, driven chiefly by declines in robberies and burglaries. Briseeda said the downward trend has been steady since June 2022 and credited a mix of technology, patrol focus and community engagement.
The nut graf: the data matter to residents because they suggest fewer serious crimes overall but also highlight a shifting pattern that requires targeted enforcement: aggravated assaults have not dropped uniformly and the department has identified a concentration near Huntington Drive where it plans stepped-up patrols.
Briseeda described specific incidents to illustrate how technology and public cooperation worked together. In one case on the 1700 block of Evergreen, a resident was held at knife point and surrendered personal items; however the resident provided a vehicle description that, after cross-checking with the sheriffs linked Flock camera system and neighboring jurisdictions' camera feeds, led to an arrest in the city of Glendora. "It just shows that the technology and the active residents ... really makes a difference," Briseeda said.
The department has expanded retail-theft operations and launched business-watch visits in coordination with code enforcement, outreach staff and deputies to make businesses "hard targets," Briseeda said, offering practical tips to reduce opportunities for crime. Council members praised the trend and asked about additional camera trailers and Civilian Service Officer visibility; Briseeda encouraged residents to report suspicious activity to Temple Station to generate follow-up and intelligence.
Ending: Briseeda closed by inviting questions and promising continued attention to hotspots; council members reiterated support and thanked deputies and staff for crime-prevention work.
