Crime rates down in Victoria

During a Victoria City Council meeting on Tuesday, Victoria Police Chief Chuck Young highlighted a decreasing crime rate in the city from 2023 to 2024. 

Young presented an annual report to the city council, showing that violent and property crimes (class I crimes) were down 10.62% and all other crimes (class II crimes) were down 8.08%. In 2023 there were 1,713 class I crimes compared to 1,531 in 2024. 

In 2023 there were 5,010 class II crimes compared to 4,560 in 2024. A breakdown of crime statistics in the city of Victoria can be found on the police department’s webpage. 

Young additionally highlighted the number of illegal drugs that were confiscated. In 2024 the police department seized nearly 6,500 grams of illegal narcotics and $248,000. One traffic stop in 2024 resulted in the confiscation of 220 pounds of cocaine with a street value of about three to six million dollars, Young said. 

Throughout 2024, the Victoria Police Department was assisted by the United States Marshal’s Service Task Force in 464 arrests clearing 720 warrants and seizing 64 firearms, Young said. 

Additionally, Young spoke about the department's current retention and recruitment challenges as well as the salary challenges for department staff. The city council compensation committee is currently reviewing the department’s salaries. Despite these challenges, the police department is a great place to work, Young said. 

“I’m trying to encourage that the job is a calling rather than just a career,” Young said. “I want to be here and my command staff wants to be here. That’s something we are trying to share with the younger officers.”