Hickory police report 30‑year low in index crimes; chief outlines priorities

Police Chief Bridal Adams told the Hickory City Council on Oct. 7 that the city’s reported index crimes for 2024 were the lowest in 30 years and described programs and data changes the department says have driven recent declines.

Adams said the city recorded 1,471 index crimes in 2024 versus 3,447 in 1995, and that from 2023 to 2024 violent crime declined 17% while property crime fell 4.7%. She also noted the department responded to 106,820 calls for service in 2024, a 6.38% increase from 2023 driven largely by self‑initiated activity.

The numbers Adams presented are the FBI index crimes the department sends through the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and then to the FBI. She cautioned that uniform crime rates can be misleading when comparing jurisdictions and read the FBI’s warning that “individuals using these tabulations are cautioned against drawing conclusions by making direct comparisons between cities.”

Why it matters: Adams said the long decline in reported index crimes is rooted in sustained community policing and in targeted programs that address repeat offenders and quality‑of‑life issues. She…