Key points:
• Overall crime decreased in Tucker in 2025, but two categories increased across DeKalb, police say.
• DeKalb County Police plan to host more than 100 events in 2026.
• Nearly 270 license plate readers will be installed across Tucker.
One week after a heartbreaking burglary at Nuttopia, DeKalb County Police Department said overall crime is decreasing in Tucker, but business break-ins continue to be an area of concern.
DeKalb County Police Chief Gregory Padrick held a town hall metting at Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library Feb. 2 to share data about crime trends, Flock cameras, and the department’s efforts to engage more with the community.
He was joined by Tucker Precinct Maj. Matthew Harden, Assistant Chief Ronaldo Hughes, Assistant Chief of Special Services Lonzy Robertson; Assistant Chief of Criminal Investigations Joseph Popp; and Real Time Crime Center Director Shane Smith. Each shared updates from their area of expertise with an audience of about 25 civilians and police staff.
Harden noted that the increase in 911 calls in Tucker is no coincidence, since the department had encouraged the community to engage with police more. Calls grew about 3.5 percent between 2024 and 2025, from 76,291 to 79,091 calls.
“We asked, you delivered. If you don’t call 911, you don’t tell us what you see, then we don’t know. If we don’t know, it didn’t occur,” Harden said.”Even with the increase in calls for us, we had an overall reduction by the end of the year in two percent for violent crimes and four percent of property crimes. That’s not a huge reduction, but anything that’s not an increase is good.”
In Tucker, there were several success stories regarding dismantling crime rings, including a lawn equipment theft ring wherein police recovered hundreds of high-value items and made arrests, Harden said. The three suspects involved in a massive car theft ring, including a 12-year-old, were arrested, which led to 46 felony counts. Authorities also dismantled a massive auto theft ring, with three suspects arrested and charged with 46 felony counts, with 11 additional cases closed via warrants.
Trouble spots
In DeKalb and Tucker, aggravated assaults increased by two percent, while business burglaries increased by four percent. Aggravated assaults will be “more tricky” to mitigate, Padrick said, since many of them are cases of domestic violence, with the perpetrator being familiar with the victim, and some victims not willing to move forward with charges.
The Real Time Crime Center, which opened on Dec. 19, seeks to help monitor and gather instant data on the activity around businesses, which can help decrease instances of business burglaries, Padrick said.
The center will employ up to 24 people, who will help monitor 240 live Flock cameras, which are connected to a database of wanted criminals across the country. The department also plans to install nearly 270 license plate readers in the Tucker area. As a part of debunking certain myths, Smith reassured residents that the data collected is not shared with third parties, including the federal government.
The detailed presentation on crime stats and efforts to address issues like business burglaries were all positive takeaways for Berkeley Boone. The Tucker resident said he would like to see more done about speeding and dangerous drivers on LaVista and Henderson roads.
“I know they’re aware of the traffic issues, so I feel positive about everything they shared,” Boone said. “The presentation, the visuals, and the technical explanation all impressed me.”
Padrick will continue the town hall meetings at 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Tobie Grant Recreation Center, 593 Parkdale Drive. Additionally, the department plans to host more than 100 events in 2026, including monthly virtual meetings for Tucker residents.