Fayetteville reports declines in several crime categories; police cite staffing needs as SRO review runs through 2025

Fayetteville — The Fayetteville Police and Fire departments told City Council on Nov. 25 that several crime and emergency metrics are down for 2024 even as both departments flagged staffing gaps and continuing operational needs.

Police Chief Braden told the council the department is projecting a year-to-date reduction in total crime of about 5.1% (565 fewer incidents) compared with the same point last year and described decreases in several violent-crime categories. "We continue to see positive movement in numbers," Braden said, listing declines in homicides, rapes and other person crimes compared with 2023. He gave a current homicide total of 16 for 2024 and said the department would finish the year below 2023 totals.

Chief Braden credited partnerships — including federal work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Project Safe Neighborhoods — for prosecutions and seizures: "So far, 24 sentences federally, 11 federally indicted, $76,000 seized and 25 firearms seized," he said. He also warned of persistent increases in motor-vehicle thefts and organized retail theft, and noted juvenile petitions and disorderly conduct remained areas of concern.

Council members pressed Braden on data and disparities. When a council member raised a recent news story about racial disparities in traffic stops, Braden said department records did not substantiate the specific incidents cited in the broadcast and reiterated that traffic enforcement is based on observed violations. He told the council the department is reviewing reporting practices required by the FBI’s UCR/NIBRS standards.

The Fire Chief’s third-quarter report showed steady response-time averages, a downward trend in many residential fire responses and ongoing outreach: the department reported more than 1,000 people taught in hands-on CPR classes and 241 free smoke alarms installed during the quarter. The chief emphasized household fire-safety prevention: "No one should lay down at night without a working smoke alarm," he said.

Both departments told council they are actively recruiting. Braden said the police department was working on a 10-year staffing and pay plan to retain and attract officers, citing a roughly 27% vacancy rate when frozen positions are included. The Fire Chief said the department had made offers to lateral hires and had recruits in the academy.

Separately, the council received a consultant-led outline of the city’s School Resource Officer (SRO) work. Dr. Richard Watkins of Science Policy Action Network told the council the firm will conduct stakeholder interviews and site visits through January and submit recommendations for SRO scope-of-services in February 2025, with a final report and metrics to follow by December 2025. "In February we are going to be submitting our recommendations for the SRO scope of services," Dr. Watkins said, describing an approach that combines data analysis, literature review and stakeholder input.

Council voted to accept both departmental reports and to receive the SRO presentation. The police and fire reports were accepted by Council motions and carried by votes recorded in the meeting minutes. The SRO work is scheduled to produce a recommended SRO contract scope in February 2025, with subsequent evaluation steps to examine expansion into middle and elementary schools.