Reported crime in Bryan fell 5.8% during the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to the Bryan Police Department.
Crimes against persons decreased 6%, crimes against property fell 9.6% and crimes against society declined 0.7%, the city said in a Sept. 21 news release.
Breaking it down
Several major offense categories also declined through July, including murder decreasing by 50% and robbery down by more than 35%.
Police Chief Dean Swartzlander said individual months or years do not always show the full picture, pointing to a longer-term decline in reported crime.
Bryan recorded 4,889 uniform crime reporting, or UCR, Part I offenses in 1991, compared with 1,286 in 2025, which is a decline of about 74%.
The impact
The decline comes as Bryan’s population has increased. The city grew from 69,851 residents in 2005 to 92,664 in 2025, an increase of nearly 33%.
Over the same period, the Bryan Police Department reported it grew from 160 employees to 196, which is a 22.5% increase.
One more thing
Swartzlander said the department uses crime data, calls for service and investigative information to identify crime trends, repeat offenders and high-risk locations, and to direct patrol and investigative resources.
“We are encouraged by the progress, but we are not satisfied by it,” Swartzlander said. “Crime trends can change quickly, and violent crime will always receive our full attention.”
The department said it will continue monitoring crime trends and adjusting its response as needed.
The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office also recently reported its lowest inmate population since 2024. Officials said this led to the closure of an inmate dormitory, saving taxpayers money.
