TPD Credits Technology, Targeted Enforcement For Drops In Violent Crime, Other Offenses

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The City of Tuscaloosa reports substantial declines in several major crime categories thus far in 2025, with police citing targeted enforcement, prevention programs and technology upgrades for the improvements.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

Through July of this year, murders are down 38% from the same period in 2024, dropping from 13 to eight cases. Attempted murders have also fallen by more than half, from 14 to six, while felony assaults with a firearm are down 15%, from 40 to 34.

Incidents of shooting into occupied dwellings or vehicles have decreased 34%, from 53 to 35.

Property crimes have also trended downward, with robbery and carjacking cases down 32.5%, while vehicle thefts have dropped nearly 39%.

The city's most common property crime — vehicle burglaries — has also decreased by 18.8% over this period.

According to year-to-date police data, burglaries dropped from 190 to 181, robberies from 40 to 27, vehicle thefts from 126 to 77, and unlawful vehicle break-ins from 320 to 260.

“The support we’ve had from our city leaders and the work of our officers has made a real difference, and you can see it in these numbers,” Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley said.

Blankley attributed the declines to focused enforcement, increased mental health staffing and the addition of two non-sworn social workers to help connect residents with services before a crisis leads to crime.

TPD also pointed out recent investments in technology, including a drone response unit, to speed up responses.

Tuscaloosa’s in-house, internationally accredited forensics lab is also the only one of its kind in the state operated by a local agency and officials say this has allowed investigators to process evidence faster and solve cases more quickly.

Blankley said officers’ visible presence in the community and investments in public safety by city leaders have also played a key role in the reductions.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com