Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Police topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police chief reports drop in violent crime and homicides but says shootings are up slightly; staffing remains strained
Summary
Police chief reported an 11% reduction in part‑one crime and a 43% drop in homicides year‑over‑year, while shootings increased slightly; staffing has fallen from historical highs and the department relies on task forces, reserves and technology to compensate.
The police chief reported to council that overall part‑one violent crime dropped 11% in 2025 and homicides were down 43% compared with the prior year, but noted that shootings had increased slightly in the latest reporting period.
The chief said the department had full sworn staffing in January but recently lost an officer; the agency continues active recruiting and accepts online applications through the city website. He described reserve/volunteer units (about 10 reserve officers remain) and the department's use of multi‑agency task forces, an assigned FBI task‑force officer and ATF/arson support to bolster investigative capacity. The chief also credited technology — camera systems and other tools — with helping drive the crime reductions.
On community engagement, the chief highlighted youth programming, a victim services unit for domestic violence and sexual‑assault victims, and active‑shooter training provided to schools, churches and community organizations. He stated that ICE has not been active in the city in recent years, responding to community concerns.
Council members asked about reserve recruitment and volunteer application processes; the chief said interested residents can find reserve‑unit application information on the city website. The presentation closed with council praise for departmental partnerships and community outreach; no formal action was required.
