Richardson Police Department reports decrease in violent, property crime

The Richardson Police Department reported a decrease in both violent and property crime in 2025, continuing a steady decline of crime in Richardson.

Chief of Police Gary Tittle presented the police department’s annual review to City Council on March 2.

The big picture

Tittle said Richardson saw an 11% reduction in violent crime and a 24.8% reduction in property crime in 2025 compared to 2024.

Building burglary and auto thefts dropped significantly, which Tittle said was largely due to new approaches to combat organized auto theft.

In a five-year timespan, from 2021 to 2025, Tittle said violent and property crime has decreased by 52.5%. There were 1,400 less incidents in 2021 compared to 2025.

“That’s an incredible number. It’s a little bit unique to Richardson,” Tittle said. “There is a national trend of reducing crime, but not to this magnitude.”

Zooming in

Tittle said there was a slight increase in aggravated assaults in 2025, with close to half of those being family violence.

Richardson has seen a continued decrease in calls for service from a 2023 high, with 187,629 calls to the emergency and non-emergency lines, as well as 230 texts to 911.

Tittle said the number of police vehicle pursuits dropped from 59 in 2024 to 28 in 2025, with the majority of those due to a DWI or DUI or originating from a stolen vehicle.

Burglary of motor vehicles was the most widespread reported offense, Tittle said, with the majority occurring in apartment or hotel parking lots and over half involving unlocked vehicles.

However, theft from vehicles and theft of vehicle parts did decrease in 2025, although Tittle warned that the price of copper is on the rise so catalytic converter theft could increase again.

Other current crime trends included an increase in organized retail theft, particularly of clothing or power tools.

Tittle also highlighted community events that RPD hosted, including a public safety expo and a women’s self-defense class that the department reintroduced last year.

Going forward

Tittle said the department is in the process of hiring a crisis intervention program manager, a new role that will focus on diverting individuals who are in crisis, unhoused or have mental health or chemical dependency needs away from the criminal justice system and into treatment services.

“It’s going to be incredibly beneficial for the organization, for the PD, for the department and for the city,” Tittle said.

RPD is also working to implement a new software platform that Tittle described as “towing Uber,” allowing officers to order a tow for vehicles from an app. Tittle said the app aims to decrease officer time on a scene, reduce radio traffic and manual calls and allow for roadways to be cleared faster following a wreck.

Also of note

Tittle introduced a new partnership between RPD and Richardson ISD called “Handle With Care” that aims to ensure children who are exposed to trauma receive appropriate interventions to help them maintain academic success.

The program creates a process for an RPD officer to confidentially notify RISD administrators and counselors when they encounter a student on a non-school-related call who they determine has experienced some form of trauma.

“We’re not getting into the details of the child’s life, but it’s something if the kid is acting out, if the kid is struggling, then [RISD should] just handle with care,” Tittle said. “We believe this will serve us very well in the future.”