The Tampa police care that murders, violent crimes for 2025

Tampa, Florida-Die City of Tampa, recorded considerable fighting in the first half of 2025, whereby newly published police officers show two-digit declines in almost every large category in almost every large category.

According to the Tampa police authority, violent crimes decreased by 19%, which decreased by 22%, and the murders have dropped by 63%compared to the previous year.

“I mean, we see unprecedented drops,” said Lee Bercaw, police chief of Tampa. “Our officers are proactive. They have a feeling of urgency that I have never seen. They solve crimes faster than before.”

The department attributes a large part of its success to a combination of aggressive police work, commitment to the community and investments in new technologies. This includes the extended use of surveillance cameras, readers of license plates and real -time data systems.

“At the beginning of this year we had a big murder case in which cameras, day readers and cell phone data helped all of us to solve them quickly,” said Bercaw. “This type of technology is a player.”

The department says that its commitment to communication and building relationships with community groups has also made a difference.

“We see children who are in our youth weapons and work with the same officials who you probably have arrested at all,” said Freddy Barton, Managing Director of Safe and Sound Hillsborough. “And to see them as mentors and people who can help to control them through the court proceedings.”

Barton praised the department for his public relations work, especially in districts, which in the past had little trust in the police.

“We start seeing residents who usually do not speak to the law enforcement authorities and have real conversations,” said Barton. “We saw how civil servants got out of their vehicles, went to parks and played basketball with children. This kind of interaction builds up.”

However, some say that more work has to be done, especially in underserved districts in which weapon power remains continuing.

“I saw a reduction in the crime rate. However, I will say that in certain areas,” said April Cobb, who heads the Camp of the East Tampa Brain Booster. “But where the majority of my students come from, not so much. The weapons are still out there.”

According to COBB, new police strategies may work in some parts of the city, but they have not fully achieved tampas fully hit postcodes.

“We need civil servants who enter into support and education – not just through the enforcement,” she said. “We cannot assume that everyone in these districts is a criminal. This is not fair and it's not nice.”

Chef Bercaw recognized the challenges, but says that the crime statistics are urban and are optimistic.

“One murder is too many,” he said. “But this reduction is unprecedented. I am grateful for the work that our officers do – and for the communities that occur.”

Country -wide data from the Florida law enforcement agency show a similar trend, with crime continues to fall in Florida.

Further information on the community programs from Tampa PD can be found at Tampa.gov/Police.