Dublin police present quarterly safety update; launch Business District Unit and new technologies for Bridge Park and Historic Dublin

Dublin Police Chief Pice delivered a quarterly public‑safety update on Feb. 3 outlining 2024 crime and traffic metrics, the department’s 2025 goals and a series of operational initiatives including a new Business District Unit and technology pilots.

Chief Pice said the department’s top 2025 priorities are critical incident preparedness, major crime response, theft‑reduction strategies, improved traffic safety and addressing significant community concerns. He said part‑1 violent crimes in Dublin remained low in absolute numbers in 2024 and noted a small increase driven mainly by aggravated assault; he also highlighted that new felony strangulation statutes affect year‑to‑year comparisons.

Crime and prevention: The chief summarized several theft‑related trends reported by the department. Theft‑from‑vehicle incidents fell in the three‑year comparison presented (from 248 in 2022 to 210 in 2023 and 145 in 2024), while reports of breaking and entering and commercial thefts have trended upward; motor‑vehicle thefts and attempts totaled 70 reports in 2024. The department emphasized prevention messaging — for example, advising people who transport firearms to secure them so they are not left accessible in vehicles — and noted partnerships with hotels and the Dublin Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association to distribute prevention information and steering‑wheel locks.

Business District Unit: Deputy Chief Latanzi described a newly formed Business District Unit staffed by Sergeant Josh Kirby, Officer Jared Dobney and Officer Josh Weber. Launched Jan. 15, the unit is focused on Bridge Park, Historic Dublin and parking garages with patrols, prevention, event safety work and investigative follow‑up. In its first weeks the unit logged more than 80 traffic stops, 37 citations, two OVI arrests and recovered one stolen vehicle, the department said. The unit will operate primarily on 10‑hour shifts Wednesday through Saturday to align with peak activity hours.

Technology and staffing: The department described operational uses for the Flock license‑plate reader network, an entry swing‑arm for the Rockcrest parking garage, two autonomous security robots (one planned for Rockcrest garage and one for Riverside Crossing Park) and a new beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight drone program. Police said the drone program would station four drones at strategic sites (including school and fire facilities) with FAA permission to launch autonomously to provide aerial reconnaissance within about 90 seconds. Chief Pice credited the technology and interagency partnerships with helping officers locate stolen vehicles and coordinate multi‑jurisdictional responses.

Traffic safety: The police presentation showed traffic enforcement and crash data: the department reported 9,623 traffic stops in 2024 and said crashes have risen since the pandemic lows (745 crashes in 2024, with 19 serious‑injury crashes reported). Chief Pice and councilmembers noted the Slow Down Dublin traffic‑management initiative and the department’s focus on enforcement and public education to change driver behavior.

Volunteer program: Deputy Chief Tabernick outlined a revitalized Community Safety Ambassador program that will recruit graduates from city academies and other applicants for a minimum four‑hour monthly volunteer commitment. Ambassadors will support event safety, theft‑prevention outreach and vacation house watches and will attend quarterly training and a background check process.

Council members thanked the department for the data and for the new Business District Unit. Several members praised the department’s use of technology and requested continued tracking of enforcement outcomes and any change in crash and speeding trends.

The presentation included multiple acknowledgements of officers and staff who worked notable cases in 2024; the department said it will continue to provide monthly metric updates through the city manager’s update and asked council for ongoing support of technology and staffing priorities.