Crime has reportedly declined substantially in Bryan over the past 30 years, according to city figures, even as the city’s population has grown. Several major offenses in College Station have also declined in recent years. Meanwhile, Brazos County’s jail population has dropped from a peak in 2024.
City and county officials say focused policing and cooperation among law enforcement agencies help maintain that trend.
The big picture
Data provided by the Bryan Police Department supports the city’s claim of a long-term decline in local crime.
In a Sept. 21 news release, the city of Bryan reported that Uniform Crime Reporting Part I offenses fell from nearly 5,000 in 1991 to about 1,300 in 2025, showing a reduction of close to 74%.
The city also reported a 5.8% decrease in crime from January through July 2026 as compared with the same period last year. Among the individual offenses reported by Bryan police, burglary reports dropped 22.5% since 2025.
Bryan’s reported decline comes as its population continues to steadily increase. U.S. Census Bureau five-year American Community Survey estimates show the city’s population grew from 78,368 in 2014 to 87,939 within a decade.
According to data from the Greater Brazos Partnership this August, west Bryan is expected to grow by 44% by 2037 as a microchip manufacturing facility is built in Grimes County. GBP predicts the Terafab project will contribute at least 400 new residents to that growth.
Brazos County’s population rose by nearly 24% from 2014 to 2024 and College Station grew by about 26%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“Looking at a single month or even a single year of crime data does not always tell the complete story,” Bryan Police Chief Dean Swartzlander said in a statement. “Bryan is a significantly larger community today, but over the long term, reported crime has declined substantially.”
Bryan police credited the decrease in part to improvement in community partnerships, proactive policing and regular reviews of crime reports, calls for service and intelligence. The department said it uses those reviews to identify repeat offenders and locations requiring more attention, then directs resources accordingly.
“Ultimately, reducing crime is a shared responsibility. Building trust, maintaining open lines of communication, and holding both the department and community accountable have contributed to positive results and a continued focus on public safety,” the police department said in a statement.
At a glance
Annual reports from the College Station Police Department show declines in several major offenses between 2014 and 2024.
Community Impact requested 2025 and 2026 crime statistics from CSPD but did not receive correspondence before press time.
Aggravated assault reports dropped about 31% from 2024 to 2025 but robbery reports jumped from 22 cases in 2023 to 126 in 2024.
CSPD Chief Billy Couch told city council in February that enforcement at Northgate has increased, resulting in 58% more arrests from 2024 to 2025.
With the culture of nightlife at Northgate, Couch said there are some establishments that require more police attention and said he’d seen some instances of new management leading to a decrease in the need for police. He did not name any specific businesses.
Couch also said CSPD’s SWAT team went out on 18 operations in 2025, which included two “full hostage” rescues.
The department sought out community members and business owners to volunteer their properties for SWAT training on Oct. 20, assuring those volunteers that no live ammunition would be used during training exercises.
Put in perspective
Brazos County’s jail population has also fallen, according to a Sept. 15 presentation from Chief Deputy of Corrections Kevin Stuart. He said the jail population peaked at 840 in July 2024 and cited 607 inmates in the local jail that morning.
Stuart said the decline has helped the county avoid costs and reduce overtime. The jail closed a dorm and eliminated a staffing post that required five full-time employees.
“Not only [does] that number look good, but it’s directly related to cost avoidance,” he said.
The chief deputy said quicker processing of paperwork for convicted felons being transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice reduces the number of state-sentenced inmates in local custody from the range of 140-150 to 80-90. He credited cooperation with the district clerk’s office for speeding up that process.
Stuart also cited more efficient court processing and additional capacity in the public defender’s office as contributing factors.
Zooming out
Brazos County Sheriff’s Office data shows reported offenses have fluctuated in recent years, with total cases hitting a decade peak in 2022 before steadily decreasing.
The data shows declines in cases including aggravated assault and burglary by more than 20% each. Meanwhile, theft cases rose 18% during the same period.
Through this October, the sheriff’s office recorded 99 cases across its nine categories, including three murder cases.
What’s being done
Brazos County District Attorney Jarvis Parsons also described a downward trend in local crime, pointing to long-term reductions in Bryan and College Station. He credited focused efforts against violent offenders, repeat offenders and high-impact cases, along with collaboration among police departments, the sheriff’s office and prosecutors.
The mental health court, known as RESTART, began operating in April under 361st District Court Judge David Hilburn. The program focuses on people with serious mental illness, intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorders who face low-level charges. It brings together the district attorney’s office, Texas A&M University clinicians, community supervision, the public defender’s office and Brazos Valley MHMR Authority.
Parsons said the courts are one part of a broader approach.
“Twenty percent of people commit 80% of the crime,” Parsons told Community Impact. “So, we’ve tried to focus on those high-impact cases… [by] working with law enforcement to ensure those violent offenders are held accountable and kept off the streets.”
Brazos County has a mental health specialty court with nine participants and 60 participants in its drug-and-alcohol court. The DA’s office is working toward developing a veterans court in the future, Parsons confirmed.
The local impact
Local officials credit policing, interagency cooperation and more efficient court processes for improvements in public safety and jail operations.
“A decrease in crime improves the quality of life for our citizens. It allows families to go out to eat, shop, attend community events, and enjoy entertainment without constantly worrying about their safety. People should be able to feel comfortable in their neighborhoods and enjoy the community they call home,” Bryan police said.
