Police data: Homicides, assaults significantly down in Dallas compared to 2023

Dallas police report a decline in gun violence within the city: according to the latest crime data from the department, homicides have decreased by over 26% compared to the previous year, while assaults have dropped by more than 19%.

However, this positive trend comes amidst a violent weekend in Dallas, where 10 individuals were shot. Police Chief Eddie Garcia emphasized that despite the progress, efforts to reduce shootings must intensify.

During the City of Dallas’s Public Safety Committee meeting, police highlighted signs of success in their fight against gun violence. Major Jason Scoggins stated that overall violent crime in Dallas has decreased by just over 17%.

The latest departmental data revealed a reduction of over 19% in assaults compared to the previous year, and 32 fewer murder victims in the first five months of the current year compared to the same period in 2023.

While attributing the progress to factors such as streetlight improvements in high-crime areas and the efforts of the specialized Crime Prevention Unit, police leaders acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly during the summer months when historically gun violence tends to rise nationwide.

Despite the positive statistics, community leaders stressed the importance of continued efforts to curb violence, particularly among young people. Maxie Johnson, a DISD Trustee who lost a son to gun violence, emphasized the need for ongoing outreach initiatives to prevent further tragedies.

Echoing these sentiments, Chief Garcia emphasized that while progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to ensure the safety of the city. The department’s ongoing Violent Crime Reduction Plan will include initiatives such as Place Network Investigations targeting criminal networks, and the reinstatement of the Focused Deterrence program later in the summer.