Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire presented a comprehensive public safety update to the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday night (April 8), highlighting a 25% reduction in overall crime during the first quarter of 2025.
The Alexandria Police Department is reporting significant strides in reducing crime across the city, with violent crimes down 43% and property crimes down 23% in the first quarter of 2025, Police Chief Tarrick McGuire told Council.
APD did not provide firm numbers on crime incidents to city leaders or the public, only percentages. The most current crime stats on the city’s dashboard only go up to Feb. 28, while the percentages given to Council were current as of March 31.
McGuire also announced the start of a 60-day crime plan focusing on six micro-areas within the city identified through data analysis. He didn’t name the specific areas, but said that they are known crime hotspots.
“Policing tactics have changed, they have to continue to change,” McGuire said. “It is important that we be precise and we implement precision practices focusing on persons that are in our community to bring harm to individuals.”
McGuire outlined the department’s accomplishments since his appointment last November and shared a vision for a data-driven approach to policing.
“I want to highlight some of the changes that we’ve seen in our crime rates,” McGuire said. “Our violent crimes are down by 43%. Our property crimes are down by 23%. Our nuisance crimes are down about 36%. Overall, our crime is down this first quarter of the year about 25%.”
McGuire attributed these improvements to the hard work of officers, community collaboration, and “evidence-based policing strategies.”
The department responded to more than 72,000 calls for service in 2024, an increase of approximately 1,200 calls from the previous year, McGuire said. While property crimes increased by 9.5% year-over-year in 2024, primarily due to shoplifting, the city experienced reductions in robbery and stolen vehicles.
“In review of all major crime categories, property crimes were up by nine and a half percent year over year, but the primary contributor to that increase were largely in shoplifting,” McGuire explained.
McGuire, who did not provide specific numbers, also said that there has been a reduction in violent crime, with homicides down by over 50% and assaults down by an average of 6%.
McGuire emphasized the importance of technology in crime reduction efforts, particularly the department’s use of license plate readers.
“The technology that we have at APD is a force multiplier, aiding deterrence of crime, creating investigative leads, ultimately bringing justice to our community,” he said.
In 2024, technology aided the APD in making approximately 200 arrests, locating 108 stolen vehicles, and recovering 11 missing persons while removing illegal firearms from the streets.
Traffic safety remains a priority for the department. In 2024, APD initiated over 10,000 traffic stops, issued over 7,800 citations, and over 2,300 warnings. There were three fatal crashes in 2024.
“Critical to traffic enforcing is public education and effective enforcement,” McGuire said. “The ultimate goal is to change driving behavior.”
McGuire outlined his 100-day plan, which was compiled after a series of listening sessions with officers and city residents. The plan includes a weekly crime review process, workplace equity improvements, and a pilot program for new officer shifts to improve work-life balance.
It also means more community events with the police. Last year, APD attended over 125 community engagement events, facilitated 12 community cookouts, and made 140 contacts with businesses and property owners throughout the city, McGuire told Council.
“Officer wellness is so serious,” McGuire emphasized. “Officers are exposed to three to four times as much traumatic incidents as the average person in our communities. And we must take a serious approach to not only leveraging the benefits that the city has right now for officer wellness, but to expand those areas for our police officers.”
