Assault is the second most frequently reported crime in Frisco—after theft—and it is on the rise. Since the beginning of this year, the number of reported assaults in Frisco has increased more than 30 percent compared with the same time period last year, according to reports compiled by the Frisco Police Department. Police Chief John Bruce said the increase is likely a result of the city’s growing population as well as the way people in today’s society are choosing to handle conflict. “I think to some degree it’s the climate in the country right now; people just seem to be angry about different things,” he said. Bruce pointed out the increase during a Frisco City Council meeting in August. Though assaults this year peaked in May with 101 reported assaults, Bruce said there is not a particular time of year when assaults increase. A lot of different circumstances can trigger an assault, including road rage or the result of a sports game, he said. “If the [Dallas] Cowboys win, we get assaults; if they lose, we get assaults,” Bruce said. “There’s no true rhyme or reason when assaults occur except you have two or more people together.” There are two different types of assaults the FPD tracks: simple assaults and aggravated assaults. A simple assault can be any contact, even minor, that is unwanted. An aggravated assault results in serious bodily injury with or without the use of a weapon. Simple assaults make up the majority of assault cases in Frisco. In August, there were 65 reported simple assaults and nine aggravated assaults. Year to date in August, 578 simple assaults were reported in Frisco compared with 67 aggravated assaults. The per capita rate of assaults in Frisco is low. Year to date in August, less than one assault happened per 1,000 people. The national average is about 15 assaults per 1,000 people, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Bruce said most victims of assault know their attackers, usually a friend or a family member. Assault is also not specific to a certain demographic group, he said. “Family violence is an issue that crosses all lines; it’s not just one socioeconomic characteristic,” Bruce said. Assault is a reactive crime, meaning there is not much the police department can do to prevent it other than educate the public about it and provide victims with the proper resources, Bruce said. Information about victim assistance resources can be found on the city’s website. Prevention mainly begins with the would-be attacker learning to not respond out of violence, Bruce said. “In our interactions, in our relationships with other people, we need to not be so quick to respond in anger,” he said. “Take a deep breath; count to however many numbers you need to get to calm down.”