City News

Year-to-date crime statistics show significant progress in reducing both violent and property crime in Tuscaloosa, with several categories seeing double-digit percentage drops compared to the same period in 2024.

Through the end of July, criminal homicides are down 38.5 from 2024. Attempted murders have dropped by more than half, from 14 last year to 6 this year. Felony assaults with a firearm have also decreased by 15%, and incidents of shooting into occupied dwellings or vehicles are down 34%.

Property crimes have also trended downward in 2025. Robbery and carjacking cases are down 32.5%, vehicle thefts have dropped by nearly 39%, and unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle, the most common property crime reported, has fallen 18.8%.

“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,” TPD Chief Brent Blankley said.

Blankley said the reductions reflect the department’s focus on targeted enforcement and prevention. TPD has increased its mental health officers and hired two non-sworn social workers who connect people with the right help before a crisis turns into a crime. The department has also invested in technology, including a drone response unit that aids with faster responses.

Tuscaloosa’s in-house, internationally accredited forensics lab — the only one run by a local agency in Alabama — allows investigators to process evidence more quickly and solve cases faster. Blankley said much of the progress also comes from officers’ visible presence in the community, as well as significant investments in public safety by the city’s leadership.

Theft UBE = Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle

Shooting into occupied / unoccupied = shooting into an occupied dwelling or residence