At a Glance
- Violent crime in Dallas has fallen 12% for the fifth straight year
- More than 750 calls for celebratory gunfire hit Dallas on New Year’s Eve
- City council wants police to present fresh solutions beyond drones and tech
- Why it matters: Residents say they still feel unsafe from random bullets despite overall crime drop
Dallas is celebrating five consecutive years of falling violent crime, yet city leaders say the sound of bullets on New Year’s Eve proves the job is not finished. Council members grilled the police department after 750-plus emergency calls reported celebratory gunfire, demanding a sharper strategy to stop random shots that terrorize neighborhoods.
Crime Stats Clash With Resident Fear
Dallas Police told the council that violent crime has dropped 12% year-over-year, extending a half-decade decline. Chief Daniel Comeaux highlighted the progress while acknowledging that the drop has not erased public anxiety.
>”Look, everyone is important, and we will work directly with you to make sure everyone in D4 is safe and crime is gone down in D4 and it’s going to continue to go down because everyone is important in Dallas,”
Comeaux said.
Despite the numbers, council members say residents still duck for cover on major holidays.
750 Calls, One Night
The department fielded the 750+ calls for random gunfire between 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and 6 a.m. Jan. 1, according to News Of Fort Worth. No fatalities were reported, but council members warned the city is gambling with lives.
>”The hard truth is that when random gunfire becomes normalized, it’s only a matter of time someone is seriously injured or killed,”
said Jaime Resendez, City Councilman, District 5.
Council Rejects ‘That’s Just How It Is’
District 12 representative Cara Mendelsohn rejected the idea that holiday gunfire is inevitable.
>”We can’t just say, ‘Well, it’s New Year’s Eve, it’s going to happen.’ Like, that’s not really good enough,”
Mendelsohn said.
District 4’s Maxie Johnson pressed police for concrete next steps.
>”That’s what I’m asking for, can y’all help me with that?”
Johnson said.
Tech vs. Tradition
Command staff told the council that new technology, including drones, will be the biggest force multiplier. The department is also staffing up, reporting 3,286 officers-the highest headcount since 2016-with plans to add 350 more by September. Hiring in the final quarter of 2025 rose more than 50% compared with the same period in 2024.
Some council members want low-tech additions. Ideas floated included:
- Permanent signage warning that random gunfire is a crime
- Neighborhood Police Officers meeting with churches to leave holiday lights on
- Erecting temporary fences to block celebratory shooters
>”An NPO could go out and talk to a church and say hey on these holidays, we need to leave lights on, we may need to have a fence to establish something that would blunt that kind of behavior in the first place,”
said Gay Donnell Willis, District 13.
Jail Time Promised
Comeaux ended the discussion with a blunt warning to anyone firing skyward next holiday.
>”Random gunfire is a crime, and if we catch you shooting just randomly, we will put you in jail,”
he said.
The department has 60 days to return to the council with a revised action plan.
