DeSoto quarterly crime report: overall Group A crimes dip but vehicle thefts spike in one district
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Summary
Police Captain Grady Kirkland reported a 3.9% drop in Group A crimes citywide from Q2 2024 to Q2 2025, but District 2 saw a rise — largely driven by motor‑vehicle thefts linked to out‑of‑city actors. Captain Kirkland and council discussed staffing constraints and business‑contact outreach.
Police Captain Grady Kirkland presented second‑quarter 2025 Group A crime statistics, reporting an overall decrease in Group A crimes compared with the same period in 2024 but an uptick in motor‑vehicle thefts concentrated in District 2.
Kirkland said DeSoto reported 447 Group A crimes in Q2 2025 versus 465 in Q2 2024 — a decline of about 3.87%. The reduction was citywide except for District 2, where reported crimes increased from 130 to 173. Kirkland attributed the District 2 increase largely to motor‑vehicle thefts (which rose from 13 to 40) and said a group from outside the city was responsible for some of the activity; recent vehicle chases and arrest activity were discussed.
Kirkland said narcotics‑related offenses shown in Districts 2 and 4 reflect enforcement activity tied to traffic stops in high‑traffic corridors (for example the I‑35 area and major intersections). He said the department’s staffing shortages constrain proactive enforcement and visibility and noted that officers make business‑contact visits (two per shift recommended) to confirm surveillance and prevention measures. Kirkland said he would provide more detailed cross‑tabulations if council requested them.
Council members asked about neighborhood watch efforts, business outreach, the role of hotels and highway corridors in crime patterns, and how to track neighborhood initiatives’ effectiveness. Captain Kirkland said follow‑up metrics (month‑over‑month comparisons and targeted surveys of participants) could help gauge neighborhood watch outcomes and that the department expects to increase community engagement if additional community‑engagement positions are funded.
Council asked how many officers the department would want in patrol; Kirkland said an ideal patrol staffing level would be 52 sworn officers in patrol to provide two officers per district plus roving coverage. He noted that certain calls (for example DWI investigations) can occupy an officer for four or more hours, reducing available patrol coverage for other calls.
Kirkland said DeSoto will share more targeted maps and follow‑up data with council and continue business‑contact and community‑engagement activities.
