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Richmond police report uptick in violent crime and say ALPR data helped lead to swift homicide arrest
Summary
Lieutenant James Moody presented May crime statistics showing increases in aggravated assaults and shootings year-to-date, and described how Flock Safety automatic-license-plate-reader data helped officers identify and, in coordination with nearby Concord police, apprehend a suspect within eight hours of a May 29 homicide.
Lieutenant James Moody, swing-shift watch commander with the Richmond Police Department, delivered May crime statistics to the RNCC on June 8 and described recent investigative work that used license-plate-reader data.
Moody said sexual assaults fell from 12 to 11 month-to-month, robberies remained about the same at 16 incidents, and aggravated assaults increased from 52 in April to 77 in May, a rise that contributed to a 28% month-to-month increase in the departments violent-crime total. He reported year-to-date shooting incidents at 44 in 2026 compared with 37 in 2025, a 19% increase, and said Richmond had three homicides so far in 2026 versus zero through the same time last year.
Moody highlighted a May 29 homicide in the 200 block of West Nevin. He said investigators identified a suspect vehicle and used Flock Safety ALPR camera data to track the vehicle; officers coordinated with neighboring Concord police and took a suspect into custody within eight hours. "We utilized that information and put it into Flock Safety ALPR and were able to track the suspect's movements," Moody said, praising investigators and technology for the quick apprehension.
Attendees asked for geographic breakdowns; Moody provided district-level burglary counts for May (Southern district eight incidents; Central five; Northern six) and said he would supply additional data on request. Residents also raised concerns about loitering and parking near a local convenience store and possible chop-shop activity; Moody encouraged continued reporting and said the department would coordinate with code enforcement where appropriate.
On the use of ALPR, Moody said most Contra Costa jurisdictions participate in shared Flock cameras and that the technology has been helpful in investigations, though exact plate-to-arrest tallies will be provided later if available.
Moody closed by thanking community members for reporting problems and said he would follow up with additional data and contacts for specific neighborhood enforcement issues.
