St. Pete police report shows crime down overall but flags stolen firearms and e‑bike risks

Police Chief Holloway presented the quarterly report covering July–September and said overall crime is down about 15% year‑to‑date with violent crime down 23% and property crime down 13%. He told council the department saw a spike in guns taken from residences driven by a few incidents and explained the number is concentrated in a small number of addresses.

"Where it says 'taken from building' is up to 31," Holloway explained, saying five residences accounted for much of the increase. The department said arrests and case closures are ongoing and that two homicide suspects in the quarter have been arrested. Holloway also highlighted community programs including the PATH team, the 'Call' crisis response program (where counselors, not officers, respond to many calls) and the Eagle Eye camera‑registration initiative.

Council and staff discussed auto and bike theft trends, the volunteer camera registration program and a multi‑pronged plan for e‑bike safety: targeted education, outreach to retailers, and intensified enforcement. Holloway said traffic enforcement weekends produced more than 200 citations in one enforcement weekend targeted at e‑bikes and dangerous riding.

Council members urged broader community education on prevention steps (locking cars, responsible gun storage) and asked the department to work with city marketing to promote registration and safety messages. Holloway said the department will continue outreach and enforcement cycles and coordinate with communications staff to remove misinformation about camera privacy.

Next steps: police will continue targeted e‑bike enforcement, public education on weapon and vehicle security, and outreach to encourage camera registration for investigative support.