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Police report: traffic stops up, some crime categories down, rise in attempted vehicle thefts; technology and outreach expanded
Summary
Dublin Police told council that traffic enforcement and many crime categories improved in early 2025 but motor vehicle thefts and attempted thefts rose, and the department highlighted expanded technology and community outreach efforts.
Dublin Police reported progress on several public-safety goals and identified an increase in motor vehicle theft attempts during the first quarter of 2025.
Chief (department presenter) told council the department’s 2025 goals include critical-incident preparedness, theft-reduction, traffic safety and responding to community concerns. The department said it has made 4,000 traffic stops year-to-date (an increase from 3,000 reported earlier in the year) and noted decreases in total traffic crashes, serious-injury crashes and OVI-related crashes. Officers also reported decreases in overall theft offenses, thefts from vehicles, burglary and breaking-and-entering offenses in Q1 2025 compared with prior periods.
However, the department flagged an uptick in motor vehicle thefts and attempted thefts: 19 reports in Q1 2025 compared with 10 in the same quarter of 2024. The chief said about one-third of 2025 reports involved vehicles left unlocked or with keys inside; department messaging urged residents to remove keys, secure firearms and remove valuables from vehicles.
The police update also reviewed technology and new programs. The department has deployed Flock Safety cameras (25 total in Dublin) and reported a recent bank incident where staff used camera footage to identify and arrest a suspect within eight hours. The library parking garage installed a parking arm in February and the department said reports at that location have decreased since installation.
The department also described planned and in-progress technology and partnerships: security robots (library robot expected shortly after power/docking installation; later rollout to Riverside Crossing Park planned), a Paladin beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone program pending final agreements and training (city received FAA approval for BVLOS visual observation and a certificate of authorization), and an outreach model that includes six newly hired community safety ambassadors and an ongoing public-safety services liaison program (a community liaison who has handled 95 referrals since program inception in November 2023, with roughly 75% positive engagement outcomes).
Council praised the mental-health liaison program and asked for continued public outreach to encourage reporting of deer strikes, vehicle thefts and other safety incidents so the city can track trends more accurately. The police presentation was informational; no council action was required.
