Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police: major crime and motor-vehicle thefts down; shootings and overdoses tracked
Summary
The police chief reported that total major crime is down about 24% year-to-date, motor-vehicle thefts have dropped substantially, and opioid overdoses remain at lower totals compared to prior reporting periods. The department described ongoing enforcement and community-engagement efforts.
The Hopewell Police Department presented its August crime report to council, reporting a year-to-date decrease in major crime categories and continued reductions in motor-vehicle thefts.
Key statistics presented by the police chief included: total violent crime increased by 4% year-to-date (55 incidents in 2025 vs. 53 in 2024); murder, robbery and aggravated assault categories contributed to the totals with a reported decrease in aggravated assaults (from 44 to 37, down 16%). The department reported an 16% drop in larceny (181 to 152 incidents) and a 67% reduction in motor-vehicle thefts (48 fewer incidents), with officers attributing part of the improvement to targeted enforcement.
The chief also reported three fatal opioid overdoses and 23 nonfatal overdoses for a total of 26 in the reporting period and credited Narcan distribution and faster emergency response as contributing to reduced fatalities. Shots-fired incidents increased slightly (35 in 2024 to 39 in 2025); the department said it responds to verified shots-fired reports with evidence searches, door-to-door canvassing and Hopewell Alerts to notify residents.
Staffing and recruitment were discussed: 39 applications had been received, with 12 sworn vacancies and four officers in the academy. Community engagement activities included National Night Out planning and other outreach events; traffic enforcement and foot patrols continue in targeted corridors such as Randolph Road.
Council members thanked the department for results and discussed potential neighborhood traffic-calming measures. The chief said he would coordinate with command staff regarding large trucks driving on local residential streets reported by Councilor Harris.
