Crime down in Winston-Salem in 2024, police chief says

Overall crime in Winston-Salem is down by about 10%, according to a report the police department presented to City Council this week. 

Data from 2024 shows a 15% reduction in aggravated assaults and car thefts compared to 2023. Homicides were down by nearly a third. Police Chief William Penn told the Council it’s hard to say exactly what the lower rates can be attributed to.

"That's a loaded question," he said. "What I will tell you on the police department side, we're putting the right people in jail who need to be in jail, getting them off the street. That's a factor.”

He also credited partnerships with community organizations for the drop. The department hired more officers last year as well – a net gain of 23 employees, which is the largest increase since 2014.