Police Chief Brandon Gurley told the Brookhaven City Council at its Jan. 13 meeting that crime in the city is down significantly in every major category.
“The takeaway is the crime is down in all categories about 30 percent,” Gurley said.
Year-over-year statistics shared by Gurley show that homicides are down 50 percent, with rape cases reduced by 29 percent, robbery lessened by 30 percent, and reported aggravated assaults down almost 12 percent.
Burglary incidents are down more than 44 percent, from 157 in 2024 to 87 in 2025, statistics gathered by the department show.
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The council commended the department for its quick action in handling incidents within the city, as well as proactive moves to thwart crime before it happens.
The council presentation is a high-level snapshot, and a comprehensive report will be presented at the end of the first quarter, including a neighborhood-by-neighborhood analysis, the report said.
In other action
• the parks and recreation department reported 18,000 people visited Rudolph’s Rink, a free ice-skating installation at Brookhaven Park that ran from Dec. 20 through Jan. 4.
• Gurley announced that members of the department would be participating in the 21st Annual Polar Plunge at Lake Acworth on February 21;
• the council passed on consent agenda a resolution authorizing the retirement of police service dog Bane and allowing him to be permanently released into the care of his handler, David Fikes;
• authorized Brookhaven’s Director of Strategic Partnerships Patty Hansen to apply for a variety of grants for sidewalk, greenway, and road improvements within the city, totaling about $27 million. The grants, if awarded, would require a $6 million match from other sources.
The council then adjourned to executive session, after which no action was taken.