Forney police report: overall crimes drop slightly; family violence and narcotics incidents rise

Chief White of the Forney Police Department presented the city—s 2024 annual crime report to the Forney City Council on May 20, 2025, saying overall reported offenses fell modestly while certain violent and narcotics categories rose. The report compared 2024 data to 2023 and explained methodological differences driven by the FBI—s National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

The report matters because it guides where police allocate personnel and technology and informs council decisions about public-safety funding. Chief White told council members that while the department recorded 25 fewer total offenses in 2024 (1,704) than in 2023 (1,729), some categories increased and warranted attention.

Chief White said the department—s overall decline was small: "I'll take a win when I can get it. It's only about 1.5%." He explained that NIBRS reports charges rather than unique incidents and that can make some counts appear higher (one 2024 homicide registered as three on the chart because two people were charged in one case). Murder totals in 2024 were two incidents, both family-violence related, the chief said.

The report highlighted aggravated assault rising by 25 incidents to 49 in 2024; Chief White said 40 of those 49 were family-violence related. "Understand domestic violence is very difficult to deter, and has its challenges because you just don't know what's happening behind a closed door," he said, and added the department had recently met with the county district attorney—s office to coordinate victim services and advocacy.

Property crimes declined by 84 incidents compared with 2023, including decreases in theft-from-vehicle and shoplifting categories. Crimes classified as "against society," notably narcotics offenses, increased. Chief White cautioned that higher narcotics counts often reflect proactive policing and detections rather than a pure growth in drug activity: "The only way to see zeroes in those categories is for them to not be necessarily proactive. And that's just not what they're about."

To place totals in context, the chief calculated offenses per 1,000 residents. Using a 2023 city population figure of 35,470 and a preliminary 2024 estimate of 39,000 from the city—s economic development office, he reported violent-crime rates of roughly 6.19 per 1,000 in 2023 and 6.23 per 1,000 in 2024. He noted the 2024 population figure was an estimate and said updated population data would affect per-capita ratios.

Chief White also showed a hot-spot map of priority 1 and 2 calls for service to illustrate geographic concentrations of calls, and told council the department plans geographic (district) policing when additional CCPD funding arrives. He said the first tranche of CCPD funding is expected in July and that the police department already included two narcotics detectives in the most recent budget cycle.

Council members asked about specific responses, including technology and personnel tied to the CCPD funding and how district assignments would work. The chief said officers would be assigned to districts by call load, likely three to four districts initially and possibly five when new developments open, and that rotations typically last six months so officers can learn the district and build relationships with residents and businesses.

The council praised the report—s context, especially the hot-spot mapping and the focus on family-violence prevention. Chief White said the department plans to increase October outreach for domestic-violence awareness and to continue coordination with county victim services.

Ending: The report will be published in a printed edition for council and will be included in future agendas. Council members and the chief said they expect the department to return with updates as CCPD funding, new personnel and CAD-system improvements permit more district-focused policing and as population estimates are refined.