Police officials told the Downtown Management Commission on July 15 that suspects connected to a string of recent downtown assaults remain in custody and that overall reported crime is down compared with last year. Chief Steve Redfern (police chief) said the suspect in the chain assaults is “still in custody on a $200,000 bond,” and that another person involved in an attack on a performer also remains jailed on a $10,000 bond.

The chief described a stepped-up downtown enforcement posture after the June incidents, citing use of bike and motor patrols, drone support and a temporary redeployment of specialized staff. Patrol commander Viking said the department temporarily reassigned officers and moved Sergeant Brian Cabobianco into an interim role to avoid coverage gaps; Viking also said officers and patrol commanders have increased evening patrols to provide more visible presence downtown.

Why it matters: Commissioners and downtown business leaders said they want to see faster communication and clearer evacuation guidance after incidents; police acknowledged that response and public-notification timing vary with evolving on-scene information. The commission’s business stakeholders said perception of safety affects customers and events downtown.

On crime trends, Chief Redfern said the department’s data analyst reported year-to-date decreases “in every crime category” compared with the same period last year, including double-digit drops in burglaries, auto theft and thefts from autos. He credited both increased officer visibility and technology the department uses to investigate and apprehend suspects.

Commissioners pressed for clarity about response times during the June event; one commissioner recounted a roughly two-hour interval between the first alert and a wider evacuation. Police explained that initial, smaller-area evacuations expanded after investigators located a suspect vehicle and coordinated with the bomb squad and other partners. The department said it is reviewing notification processes and will continue outreach to businesses and residents about how and when to expect official updates.

The department announced public-engagement efforts including a July 23 “Walk with a Cop” event on the 1300 block aimed at increasing in-person interaction between officers and residents. Officials said the event is intended to be recurring but that the schedule will depend on demand.

No formal commission action was taken on public safety during the meeting. Commissioners and staff discussed continued coordination between police, the district attorney’s office and downtown business improvement teams for both short-term safety and longer-term perception management.