Hopewell police report drop in property and violent crime overall but spike in robberies and shots‑fired calls

The Hopewell Police Department presented monthly crime statistics to council during the regular meeting. The department reported year‑to‑date reductions in several categories but highlighted concerning increases in other areas.

The chief reported six homicides year‑to‑date and said one recent homicide on Raleigh Street led to an arrest within 24 hours; another homicide on the 800 block of Chestnut was under investigation. The department said robberies rose from 3 (in the comparative prior period) to 12 in the current reporting period and described the robberies as individual incidents rather than a single pattern.

The department reported total property crime down about 23%, larcenies down about 12%, aggravated assaults down about 22% and motor vehicle thefts down about 65%. Verified shots‑fired calls rose from 33 to 39 year‑to‑date. The chief described the department’s response to shots‑fired calls as door‑to‑door follow up, neighborhood canvasses and forensic evidence collection when available.

The department promoted community engagement initiatives including neighborhood watch meetings, business checks and foot patrols downtown, and announced National Night Out set for Oct. 7 from 5–8 p.m. at the community center. Recruitment remains active: the department reported 12 vacancies and two dispatch vacancies, with new recruits in the academy and recent hiring/testing events underway.

Council members thanked the department for outreach and asked for continued emphasis on robbery prevention and shots‑fired reductions.