DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department says violent crimes are at a six-year low and murders continue to drop.
Chief Eddie Garcia released the numbers during a public safety meeting at city hall.
Statistics show murders are down 26% from this same time last year. There are 21 fewer murders.
And he says there are nearly 500 fewer aggravated assaults for a 25% reduction.
Garcia attributes part of the success to the department’s violent crime plan, which he said has been successful in reducing crime for three years in a row.
Officers have been focused on arresting habitual violent criminals in hot spots across the city and have worked on getting guns, drugs and gangs off the streets, he said.
“The City of Dallas had a very positive first quarter," Garcia said. "It was the lowest quarter of incidents and or victims that the city has seen for six years in the first quarter. So, heading into the summer months, it’s not a time to let down. It’s time to put the foot on the gas and continue all of our efforts we are doing to continuing to what are ultimate goal is."
Garcia says the success has also been due to community engagement and working with the community to bring down crime in traditional high crime areas.
He also praised officers for continuing to work hard even as the department struggles with a severe staffing shortage. The chief of the department needs nearly 1,000 officers to be at proper staffing levels.