TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Police Department released its 2025 Annual Report on Wednesday, revealing a sharp decline in crime rates that places the city among the safest major metropolitan areas in the United States.
According to the document, Tampa recorded its lowest number of homicides in over 50 years, a statistic that highlights a broader trend of receding violence within the city limits.
The data shows that homicides in Tampa plummeted by 52.8% over the last year, a figure that nearly triples the national downward trend of 19.3%.
Total crime, which includes both property and non-violent offenses, saw a 21.3% reduction. These internal metrics were compared with a national survey of 67 major U.S. cities, in which Tampa ranked fourth-lowest for total violent crime and third-lowest among cities of a similar size.
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Police Chief Lee Bercaw attributed the shift to a combination of community involvement and the adoption of new technology.
“The strength of our police department is grounded in our partnership with the community we serve,” Bercaw stated, emphasizing that the department’s mission relies on cooperative efforts rather than isolated enforcement.
Among the technological updates noted in the report is the integration of real-time language translation via body-worn cameras and the “Drones as First Responders” program. These tools are designed to provide officers with immediate information and bridge communication gaps during emergency calls.
The department also reported a 33% decrease in the use of force, which officials linked to expanded de-escalation training and virtual reality simulations used to prepare officers for high-pressure encounters.
The report also detailed various community outreach programs, such as “Community Pop-ups.”
These events involve officers visiting local apartment complexes to engage with students after school through interactive activities. Additionally, the department highlighted its “RICH House” program, which provides after-school support and literacy sessions for youth in Sulphur Springs and Robles Park.
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On the operational side, the department successfully recruited nearly 100 new officers and 20 dispatchers in 2025. This hiring surge comes as the city continues to manage safety for high-profile events, having hosted over 1.7 million sports fans for various championships throughout the year.
Mayor Jane Castor, who previously served as the city’s police chief, noted that the drop in property crimes, including a 35.9% decrease in auto burglaries, has a tangible impact on the local economy and neighborhood stability.
As the city moves into 2026, the department indicated that its focus will remain on proactive crime prevention and further strengthening the “S.A.F.E.” core values—Service, Advocate, Fairness, and Excellence.
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