The City of Phoenix Community Safety Plans (CSPs) successfully reduced crime and increased how safe residents feel in their neighborhoods since their implementation three years ago.
In 2022, the Mayor and Phoenix City Council approved the CSPs, a collaborative effort involving multiple departments, using technology and community-based resources to address safety concerns and increase the quality of life along the I-17 corridor. The CSPs focused on five areas along 19th and 27th Avenues and along Hatcher Road in West Sunnyslope.
The City partnered with Arizona State University (ASU) to analyze the progress of the CSPs and to make recommendations for future action. The ASU study found overall crime reduced in each of the CSP areas, with decreases in incidents of crimes such as trespassing, theft, burglary and aggravated assaults. Residents are seeing and feeling the impact of the CSPs in their neighborhoods. In 2023, the City surveyed residents about how safe they felt in their community and their biggest concerns. When asked those same questions earlier this summer, people surveyed reported seeing less graffiti and blight, and in every CSP area, residents say they now feel safer in their communities.
Each CSP area achieved distinct milestones. The following highlights showcase the unique successes by area:
27th Avenue CSP
Midtown
Location: 35th Avenue to I-17 from Indian School Road to Northern Avenue – Council Districts 4 & 5
- Violent crimes down by as much as 40%
- 30% reduction in trespassing
- 29% reduction in overall crime
- In 2024, Phoenix Police and the FBI seized and closed the Royal Inn addressing a chronic drug and prostitution problem in the nearby neighborhood.
- Deployment of Behavioral Health Engagement Teams by the Office of Homeless Solutions to focus on outreach to individuals who are experiencing homelessness and/or behavioral health challenges.
Metro
Location: I-17 to 35th Avenue from, Dunlap Avenue to Sweetwater Avenue – Council District 1
- 69% decrease in shoplifting
- 53% reduction in burglaries
- 36% reduction in trespassing
- 35% reduction in overall crime
- Phoenix Police worked closely with area businesses to implement Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) trainings and securing or renewing Authority to Arrest forms.
Bell Road CSP
Location: Bell Road between 35th and 15th Avenues – Council Districts 1 & 3
- 80% reduction in shoplifting
- 43% reduction in overall crime
- 43% increase in residents reporting feeling “very safe” or “safe” in the Perceptions of Safety survey. In 2023, before the CSPs, 25% of residents reported feeling “safe” or “very safe.” In 2025, 68% now report feeling “safe” or “very safe.”
- 33% reduction in trespassing
- 19 alley segments gated through the Gated Alley Program
Hatcher Road CSP
Location: Hatcher Road between 19th and 7th Avenues - Council District 3
- 68% reduction in drug-related crimes
- 54% reduction in trespassing
- 38% reduction in overall crime
- 25% increase in residents reporting feeling “very safe” or “safe” in the Perceptions of Safety Survey. In 2023, 28% of residents reported feeling “very safe” or “safe.” In 2025, 53% now report feeling “safe” or “very safe.”
- 250+ people experiencing homelessness placed into shelter or other services to help end their homelessness through coordinated outreach services.
19th Avenue CSP
Location: I-17 to 15th Avenue & Campbell Avenue to the Arizona Canal just north of Dunlap - Council Districts 4 & 5
- 17% reduction in overall crime
- 14% reduction in aggravated assaults
- 14% reduction in trespassing
- 64 alley segments gated through the Gated Alley Program
- 11% decrease in residents concerned about graffiti in their neighborhood. In the Perceptions of Safety Survey, 54% identified graffiti as a concern in 2023, compared to 43% in 2025.
Real Time Operations Centers
As part of the Community Safety Plans, the City also opened two Real Time Operations Centers (RTOC) in the Cactus Park and Desert Horizon police precincts. The RTOCs enhance public safety using high-tech tools like license plate readers, gunshot detectors, and CCTV cameras to help respond to and investigate crimes. The RTOCs played a pivotal role in supplementing officers’ responses in 2024 and 2025. Some of the key accomplishments include:
- 1,449 subjects detained
- 194 firearms recovered
- 140,563 Firefly gunshot activations, initiating 1,782 gunshot calls for service
- 412 traffic collision investigations supported
- 368 stolen vehicles recovered with an estimated value over $3.2 million
- 256 investigative requests supported for the Violent Crime Bureau
The City of Phoenix is proud of the results achieved to address crime and increase quality of life through the CSPs. The City is currently gathering community feedback on the ASU study and will present the findings and key recommendations to the City Council in September for guidance on next steps. The collaborative approach to addressing community concerns is clearly making a difference in communities where it is needed most. The City is committed to building on the progress made through the CSPs, making Phoenix a city where every resident feels safe.
“Keeping our neighborhoods safe is one of my highest priorities and it takes a real team effort to accomplish that goal,” Mayor Kate Gallego said. “The strategic approach we’ve taken through our Community Safety Plans is having a real impact and reducing the kind of crimes that play a meaningful role in our quality of life.”
“As a consistent champion for public safety and an early advocate of Real Time Operations Centers, it’s deeply rewarding to see that crime is down and confidence is up,” said Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien. “When we equip our officers and residents with the right tools - like gated alleys and authority to arrest forms - we get real results. Combined with real-time technology, these efforts are helping us build safer neighborhoods.”
“Three years after implementing our City of Phoenix Community Safety Plans, we’re seeing real results,” District 6 Councilman and Public Safety Subcommittee Chair Kevin Robinson said. “Through strong collaboration across City departments, innovative use of technology, and deep community partnerships, we've not only reduced crime in all five target areas but significantly improved how safe residents feel in their neighborhoods. With support from ASU’s data analysis and recommendations, it's clear that our commitment to public safety and quality of life is making a lasting impact. I am so proud of how far we’ve come, and we are committed to building on this momentum.”
"Our Community Safety Plans are working. From shoplifting on Bell Road to drug activity along Hatcher, we’ve seen double-digit reductions in crime - and that’s thanks to strong partnerships, smarter policing, and listening to what our communities need," District 3 Councilwoman Debra Stark said. “This is exactly the kind of progress we aimed for when we launched this effort three years ago."
“Thanks to the Community Safety Plan and the Real Time Operations Center, violent crime in the 27th Avenue corridor is down 40% and overall crime is down 29%,” District 4 Councilwoman Laura Pastor said. “This partnership between the City, residents, businesses, and law enforcement is changing 27th Avenue for good.”
“In District 5, we’ve seen real progress - a 40% drop in violent crime, a 29% reduction in overall crime, and the closure of the Royal Inn, a long-standing hotspot for drugs and prostitution. These changes didn’t happen overnight. They’re the result of community-driven safety plans, investment in tools like the Real Time Operation Centers (RTOC), and most importantly - the voices of our residents,” District 5 Councilwoman Betty Guardado said. “I’ve always said that public safety is about more than numbers. It’s about restoring trust, protecting families, and making sure our neighborhoods are places we’re proud to call home. I’m committed to building on this momentum and continuing to fight for a safer, stronger District 5.”
