Editor’s note: All data in this story comes from year-end council reports compiled from the National Incident-Based Reporting System.
Violent crime fell in Dallas in 2025, year-end data from the Dallas Police Department shows.
After recording a 30% rise from 10 to 13 murders YOY in 2024, District 10’s murder count more than halved, with six reported incidents in 2025. While fatal offenses declined in District 10, police reported an overall increase in aggravated assaults. Violent crime fell citywide by 12% in 2025, according to a presentation from a Jan. 13 meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee.
At the meeting, DPD Maj. Andre Taylor presented data showing fewer victims involved in violent crime citywide in 2025, along with the overall drop in incidents recorded. He pointed to “evidence-based crime fighting strategies,” technology and targeted apprehension as factors leading to the reduction.
“The reduction of these crimes assists in reducing overall crime in the City of Dallas,” Taylor told Council members.
The targeting of violent and repeat offenders is a common theme in former Police Chief Eddie Garcia’s 2021 Violent Crime Reduction Plan. It has also been a hallmark of current Chief Daniel Comeaux’s tenure since his April swearing-in ceremony. In June, over 300 arrests were made as part of Operation Justice Trail, his first major operation in command. And earlier this month, DPD concluded Operation Holiday Heat, in which police arrested over 50 violent offenders beginning in November.
District 10
Most of the murders we reported on in District 10 in 2025 occurred in northern Lake Highlands and the Forest Lane corridor.
“I know I’ve got areas in my district, I know we may have council districts that have more challenges with respect to violent crime,” District 10 Council member Kathy Stewart said to DPD representatives during the meeting. “So I know you guys can make a difference, and I appreciate the work that you are doing to make all of that happen.
District 10’s violent crime count remained largely stagnant due to a rise in both nonfamily violence and family violence-related aggravated assaults. Aggravated assault-NFV incidents rose by more than 10%, with 225 cases recorded, up from 204 in 2024. Aggravated assault-FV incidents saw an even bigger jump in 2025, with year-end data showing a 30.84% increase from 107 incidents in 2024 to 140 incidents through the end of December.
Representatives from DPD told the Advocate in a written statement that the rise in family violence incidents is likely tied to increased awareness and reporting.
The rise in family violence offenses can be attributed to increased outreach, including holding seminars at apartment complexes, educating members of the community on what to do if they experience domestic violence, and how to help someone experiencing it. Continuing that outreach means more victims are coming forward to report it, which results in an increase of reported offenses. Because they reported it, however, our officers and detectives can connect those survivors with shelters and other resources to keep them safe and prevent further violence.
Robberies against individuals rose marginally in District 10, as did thefts from motor vehicles. Theft offenses declined in the district overall. With 235 incidents in 2025, fraud offenses rose by 44.17% as confidence games/swindle offenses and identity thefts saw the largest increases. There were 13 arson incidents reported in 2025, up from 6 in 2014.
Notably, motor vehicle thefts in the district declined by more than 31% in 2025, with 510 incidents reported, down from 743 in 2024.
Another area District 10 saw a decline in 2025 was business burglaries, which rose by more than 25% in 2024. In 2025, District 10 recorded 305 business burglaries, a drop from 370 in 2024.
“The Department’s Office of Community Affairs offered several Business Robbery Symposiums throughout 2025 to educate business owners on new strategies to protect their businesses, like installing exterior lighting, cameras, using environmental design to enhance security, and what to do in the event they experience a robbery or burglary. The Department also encourages business owners to sign up for ConnectDallas, a program that allows business to register their cameras with the Department. By registering, the Department will know where cameras may have captured evidence of a crime, and if the business chooses, allow the Department to view their cameras live in the event of an emergency.”
In the committee meeting, Stewart praised DPD for the Focused Deterrence program in the Violent Crime Reduction Plan. As part of the plan, DPD identifies newly released individuals who were formerly incarcerated and contacts them or their families to begin the process of opting into the program. Using a combination of resources from city departments and assistance from community groups, the program seeks to proactively prevent further offenses by offering employment, educational and housing opportunities to offenders.
The Focused Deterrent program has 77 individuals enrolled currently, according to the council report.
“The other part of the problem is that there are people in that world because, for whatever reason, the needs that they have are just haven’t been addressed or they haven’t chosen that path,” Stewart said at the meeting. “So we’re trying to open doors so that they do have a different path. And that’s where I see hope in this, in this project, in this plan. It’s hope for a much better future for the city of Dallas overall.”
