Is Troy Getting Safer?
Vol. III, No. 303 - This Is What the Numbers Actually Tell Us
The Troy Police Department released its 2025 Annual Report this week, and for residents who’ve been wondering whether this community is trending in the right direction, the answer is mostly, yes. The data tells a story of meaningful progress on some of the most important public safety measures, though it also surfaces a few areas that deserve continued attention from both residents and officials.
Total reported crime fell from 1,325 incidents in 2024 to 1,307 in 2025 — a modest but measurable decline. That headline number, however, only scratches the surface. Beneath it, the shifts in specific crime categories are more telling. Burglaries and breaking-and-entering incidents dropped by 54%, motor vehicle thefts fell by 60%, and larceny and theft declined by 15%. For a community where property crime directly affects residents’ sense of security at home and in their neighborhoods, those are significant improvements.
The one area that will understandably draw attention is homicides. Troy recorded zero homicides in 2024, but two in 2025. Both carry important context. One was a murder-suicide involving a married couple in their 60s at a private residence, and the other was a vehicular homicide following a head-on crash on Adams Street. Neither reflects the kind of random street violence that erodes daily community confidence. In fact, over the last ten years, Troy has recorded eight homicides in total — and all eight have been cleared. That clearance rate matters, and residents deserve to know it.
Some of the most encouraging numbers in the 2025 report don’t involve crime at all — they involve how the department operates. Use-of-force incidents dropped by 55% compared to 2024, falling from 50 incidents to just 28. Vehicle pursuits were cut nearly in half, dropping from 28 in 2024 to 14 in 2025. These aren’t just internal metrics. They reflect a department culture that is increasingly prioritizing de-escalation and tactical restraint — something that should matter to every resident who wants professional, community-centered policing.
One of the most substantive changes in 2025 was behind the scenes. The average daily officer vacancy rate dropped from 2.6 in 2024 to just 1.1 in 2025. The department transitioned property room and accreditation duties to a new civilian position, which freed up a sworn officer for patrol and enabled the creation of a fourth detective position. A new 12-hour patrol schedule — proposed by the officers’ union and approved as a one-year trial — proved effective enough that the City extended it into 2026. More officers on the street, better organized, is good news for Troy.
Traffic activity increased noticeably. Officers conducted 7,063 traffic stops in 2025, up 35% from 5,245 in 2024, and total calls for service rose 7% to 25,478. While more traffic enforcement can feel intrusive to some residents, it reflects a more active patrol presence — the same presence that helped keep OVI-related crashes flat at 19 for the second consecutive year. The opioid situation, however, bears watching. Reported suspected overdoses increased in 2025 after declining in 2024. The department’s Quick Response Team — working alongside Troy Fire and Sunrise Treatment Center — attempted contact with 101 individuals and successfully reached 33 of them. That program is doing meaningful work, and it deserves both community awareness and sustained public support.
One category that moved in the wrong direction was aggravated assault, which climbed 40% — from 15 incidents in 2024 to 21 in 2025. The majority of those cases involved people who already knew each other, and all but one were closed by arrest. That resolution rate is notable. Still, this is a number worth tracking closely in the year ahead, and one that community members — especially those working in social services, mental health, and domestic intervention — should keep in their line of sight.
So is Troy safer in 2025 than it was in 2024? On balance, yes. Property crime dropped substantially, use of force fell dramatically, staffing improved, and the department is better equipped than it was a year ago. The two homicides and the rise in aggravated assault are genuine concerns, not to be dismissed — but they exist within a broader trend that is moving in the right direction. A well-informed community is the best partner a police department can have, and these numbers give residents real, substantive ground to stand on.
Announcing our March Community Survey!
Every other month, this publication takes time to ask our readers how they feel about the happenings in their hometown! What are the challenges? What are the opportunities? Is your hometown headed in the right direction? Our survey is the easiest way for you to express your thoughts. Next month, this publication will report out on the results.
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