Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Crime Stats topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Chief Tracy reports declines in several crime categories and outlines recruitment progress
Summary
Chief Tracy presented ComStat data showing reductions in many crime categories (year-to-date down 8%) and described enforcement strategies, a 90% homicide clearance claim for older cases, and recruitment numbers — 848 sworn officers with 18 in the academy and plans for additional academy classes.
Chief Tracy delivered an extended ComStat presentation to the board on Aug. 5, summarizing short-term and year-to-date crime trends and the department's enforcement and prevention strategies.
The chief presented rolling 7- and 28-day comparisons and said the department is down 8% year-to-date compared with the previous period: "This is compared to to, year to date as of, August 2, down 8% for the year," the chief said in the presentation. The chief credited targeted strategies — including NIBIN, focused deterrence, interagency MOUs and improved case processing — for declines in shootings and other categories and said that long-term comparisons to a 2022 baseline show substantial reductions.
On staffing, the chief said the department currently has 848 sworn officers with 18 trainees in the academy: "We have 18 in the academy now. So we're at 848 sworn police officers. 18 of them are in the academy," he said. The chief described attrition and hiring timelines, noting it takes roughly 18 months to bring a recruit fully to patrol status and outlined plans to add academy classes to move toward a 900–1,000-officer goal.
Board members questioned how the department would communicate sudden swings in statistics; Mayor Spencer asked for advance notice when month-to-month figures show large percentage changes. The chief and staff agreed to provide contextual briefings and regular updates.
