Palatka Police Chief Shaw told the City Commission that through the first three quarters of the year (January–September) the city recorded an overall 5% decrease in crime compared with the prior reporting period, with drops in drug offenses, simple assault and most theft categories but increases in vandalism, motor‑vehicle‑parts theft and shoplifting.

Shaw described enforcement and prevention efforts behind the numbers: a revamped retail‑theft program focusing on the Highway 19 corridor, identification of repeat retail offenders in coordination with the state attorney’s office, added patrol visibility, and new federal and state partnerships for investigations.

Pilot program: Shaw introduced “We Record,” a neighborhood camera‑share pilot in the South Side Historic District. The voluntary program asks residents with private surveillance systems to share footage of suspicious incidents via a dedicated city email (werecord@palatakfl.gov). Staff said they canvassed homeowners and neighborhood meetings to enroll participants and that the system will be expanded if the pilot proves successful.

Automated cameras: The chief highlighted results from city‑deployed license‑plate readers (Flock cameras): staff reported 627 traffic stops, 210 citations, 144 driver's‑license actions, 53 seized tags, 27 arrests, recovery of nine stolen vehicles and evidence used in several shootings and burglary cases. The department credited the technology with aiding three missing‑person recoveries and a hit‑and‑run arrest.

Community engagement and facilities: Shaw said officers participated in more than 54 community events (trunk‑or‑treats, school visits, “Cops & Coffee”), and the department is using grant funds to repair facility roofs and interior finishes. He outlined completed and planned building upgrades to improve morale and operations.

Lifesaving awards: Commissioners recognized officers and firefighters for on‑scene life‑saving interventions in December that staff said restored pulses and revived overdose victims; the commission publicly commended the individuals named by department leadership.

What comes next: The police chief said the department projects a roughly 2% net reduction for the full year once FDLE figures are finalized in March and said the department will pursue retail‑theft meetings with businesses, expand the neighborhood camera pilot and seek federal/state grant support for additional community resource officers.