DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd appears in a recruitment video for his department. (Image from DeKalb Police Department)

In a report to the DeKalb City Council, Police Chief David Byrd said violent crime dropped 22 percent in 2022 and decreased 38 percent from 2021. 

He credits an investment in public safety and greater visibility in helping produce results. 

“Law enforcement presence is a deterrent,” said Byrd as part of his department’s annual report. “I am hoping that we will see that in another reduction in violent crime in 2024.” 

The reductions occurred as the City Council approved increasing the number of sworn officers to 70 for 2023. Another three sworn officers have been approved for this year.  

“Every division within the DeKalb Police Department — sworn and civilian — is approaching full staffing levels,” Byrd wrote in his report. “It is so exciting to have the staffing needed to provide complete Law Enforcement Services to the City of DeKalb, without eroding our personnel through excessive overtime shifts and extended hours of work.” 

The number of shooting calls where gunfire was confirmed also fell last year. These calls declined to 25, four fewer than in 2022 and down 48 percent from 2021. The City is on pace for another decline with fewer shooting calls reported so far in 2024 than at the same time last year. 

 Other notable declines included: 

 ** Aggravated assaults dropped from 174 in 2021 to 125 in 2022 and 92 in 2023. 

** Disorderly conduct charges went from 1,070 in 12021 to 886 in 2022 to 750 in 2023. 

** There were 31 robberies in 2022 and 19 in 2023. 

** Destruction of property reports declined from 573 in 2021 to 527 in 2022 and 368 in 2023. 

** Weapons violations also dropped from 74 in 2021 to 55 in 2022 to 47 in 2023. 

The department has an overall budget of $16.3 million and serves a community of 40,624. 

Along with additional officers, Byrd pointed out that engagement in the community has helped with the city’s progress on violent crime. 

“The DeKalb Police Department has made its mission to form a union with several community stakeholders in an attempt to build trust, faith, and transparency,” he wrote. “This unified front has already begun to make an impact in the community and has proven to be a crime reducer for the city.” 

This included partnerships with nonprofit organizations, participation in community events, engaging in Heroes and Helpers and Pay It Forward holiday activities and in ongoing programs such as the Department’s five School Resource Officers and the Social Worker Liaison Program. New for 2023 were the Fun Jam in the Park events for families held twice weekly in the summer at neighborhood parks. 

“We were building unity with our community every day when we attended this Fun Jam in the Park,” said Byrd. “The kids loved it, the parents loved it and we’re looking forward to this year.” 

The Police Department also saw results from its investment in License Plate Reader technology. The readers, which assist in the location of vehicles linked to crimes that have already occurred, alerted DeKalb Police to vehicles tied to separate homicide cases in Aurora and Chicago. 

Police also received upgraded body cameras in 2023, featuring better battery life and streamlined functionality. Body cams were introduced in 2021.