Sugar Land 2020 crime rate was ‘lowest on record’

At a March 2 meeting, Sugar Land City Council was presented with details of the city’s 2020 crime rate by Sugar Land Police Chief Eric Robbins.

According to DPS statistics, among Texas cities with a population of 100,000-150,000, Sugar Land is the fourth-safest. Among the top five safest cities in that bracket, Sugar Land had the lowest crime rate.

“Despite the hardships and major changes of this year, the Sugar Land Police Department has maintained excellent service to our residents,” Robbins said. “COVID changed a lot about how we operate. While we saw a decrease in things like traffic stops and calls for service, SLPD increased visibility at spaces like grocery stores and parks. I am proud of the work that our department has put into making Sugar Land one of the safest cities to live in.”

According to the presentations, Sugar Land’s crime rate decreased by 26% from 2019 to 2020, and in 2019, the city rate was 60% lower than the Texas average and 57% lower than the national average. The city’s violent crime rate decreased by 4%, and its property crime rate decreased by 27%. The overall crime rate comprises all “Part 1” crimes, including homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, thefts and auto thefts.

The report also showed that in 2020, assaults decreased by 4%, but aggravated assaults increased by 29%, and family violence increased by 12%. The number of traffic stops, which was likely influenced by the changes in commutes in the pandemic, decreased by 35% from 31,935 to 20,826.

Mental health calls also saw an increase, from 922 in 2019 to 1,126 in 2020. The majority of 2020 calls took place after July.

"[SLPD is] combating this upward trend by partnering with local hospitals and mental health authorities to provide resources for residents. Additionally, the department is enhancing crisis intervention training," city officials said in an email.

Priorities for Sugar Land police this year include expanding the crime prevention camera program; evaluating drones; improving the police training program; enhancing the public safety training facility; increasing police visibility, such as through bike patrols; planning for succession and leadership development; and improving communication with Sugar Land residents.