Crime incident reports produced by the Tallahassee Police Department, and released on a daily basis, show that through the first 8 months of 2024 violent crime incidents are down 13.8% when compared to the same period during 2023. Property crimes are down 4.0%.
Property crimes encompass burglaries, thefts, and incidents of vandalism. Violent incidents include aggravated assaults, armed robberies, and physical altercations.
Total crime incidents in 2024 are down 7.3% year-to-date (YTD) when compared to 2023.
More promising are recent trends. Over the last eight weeks violent crime incidents are down 34.8%.
City officials told TR that the TPD incident reports are unofficial and subject to revision but also indicated that the numbers are consistent with the feelings on the street – violent crime has been trending down.
The Downturn
What has triggered the down double-digit downturn in violent crime?
While violent crime is down nationally, the disaggregrated numbers show that violent crime in cities varies greatly. For example, one report on crime found the combined average homicide rate for a sample of 29 cities was 2% lower in the first half of 2024 than in the same period in 2019. However, the overall decline was driven by large drops in cities with traditionally high homicide rates, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. Two-thirds of the sample cities (19 out of 29) actually had homicide rates that were higher in the first half of 2024 than in 2019.
Aside from national trends, what factors could be impacting the crime incidents in Tallahassee?
TR confirmed that TPD has hired 39 new officers in 2024, some with previous law enforcement experience. TR also confirmed that there are more patrol officers on Tallahassee streets now than one-year ago.
In addition, officials talked about the impact of the Capital Region Real Time Crime Center which (RTCC) began operating in early 2023. The RTCC uses camera technology to help solve crimes. In May, TPD reported that 93 public safety cameras had been deployed throughout the community.
TPD has previously noted that the RTCC “has been instrumental in collaborating with partner agencies on several shootings, homicides, swatting calls, and the recovery of more than 120 stolen vehicles.”
Also, last month TPD announced they were ramping up their efforts related to traffic enforcement. Last week TPD reported that law enforcement officials initiated 356 traffic stops in one day which resulted in 227 citations and officers made 11 arrests with charges ranging from driving under the influence to felony traffic charges and outstanding warrants.
The Incident Reports
TPD has been releasing daily incidents reports for years. The reports provide information on crime incidents from the previous day and include an incident code, a beat number, time of incident and other notes.
TR began tabulating the information and producing various reports in 2019.
The 2024 YTD report shows a 7.3% decline in total crime incidents driven by a 4.0% decline in property crime and 13.8% decline in violent crime.
The YTD Crime Type Comparison shows that the decline in violent crime is being driven by a 10.5% decline in assault & battery incidents and 22.1% decline in robbery incidents.
The decline in property crimes is being driven by a 7.3% decrease in auto burglary and theft related incidents and a 4.3% drop in commercial burglaries. Residential burglaries are up 3.9%.
Recent Trends
Over the last 8 weeks, reports indicate that property crime incidents are down 6.7.% and violent crime incidents are down 35%. These recent trends means that the YTD numbers will continue to trend downward for at least the next few months.
Fatal Shootings Trending Down
In 2023 there were 24 fatalities related to shootings and 2024 began with signs that the trend would continue. Through June 1, there were 14 shooting fatalities. However, since June 1, there have been 3 shooting fatalities compared to 9 during the same period in 2023.
Reports: Violent Crime Trending Down added by Staff on
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@Proud (Stupid) Redneck. No where is as safe as it was 50 years ago. Potato. Too many of you running around inciting violence.
the PBA really shot themselves in the foot by endorsing Rudy Ferguson. Dailey too. Permanently sets back LEOs as a political force and makes them look out of touch especially with the TPD $135 million headquarter boondoggle and TPD tax hike
If officials put up a public safety (SPY) camera in the Fake Newsocrat’s tiny newsroom, I bet they could find all sorts of Crimes Against Journalism.
If officials put up a public safety (SPY) camera in the Fake Newsocrat’s tiny newsroom, I bet they could finds all sorts of Crimes Against Journalism.
Beppo. The majority of crime is in the black community.
Sarah is correct, They stopped reporting all crimes. Tallahassee has become increasingly less safe, thanks to the liberals that run it.
Easy… it’s election season.
They stopped publicly reporting all crimes. They only report them publicly when the media gets a hold of them and then they have too.
@Proud “a black man.” Why is that relevant?
On August 19, 2024 a young convicted felon, a black man, car jacked a vehicle that led to a three county chase by law enforcement. Crime is getting worse. You can prove anything with statistics. The real facts are: your taxes/fees are going up, the welfare state has grown into an enormous program and you and your family are not near as safe in Tallahassee as they were in 1970.