Bryan reported a substantial long-term decline in UCR Part 1 crime offenses as the city’s population increased. City officials said the number of those offenses fell from a peak of 4,889 to 1,286 in 2025, a reduction of 74%.
The city’s population rose from 69,851 residents in 2005 to 92,664, an increase of nearly 33%. During that period, the Bryan Police Department expanded from 160 employees to 196, a 22.5% increase.
Bryan Police Chief Dean Swartzlander said long-term data provides a broader view than figures from a single month or year. “Bryan is a significantly larger community today, but over the long term, reported crime has declined substantially,” Swartzlander said.
Crime also decreased during the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. The city reported an overall decline of 5.8%, including a 6% decrease in crimes against persons, a 9.6% drop in crimes against property and a 0.7% reduction in crimes against society.
Swartzlander said officials were encouraged by the reductions but would continue focusing on violent crime and public safety. Further details about the individual offenses included in the reported totals were not provided.
