Dallas Police reported the fewest number of random gunfire calls in four years in 2025, according to new data shared with the Dallas City Council on Monday. During its presentation to the Public Safety Committee, DPD said the number of reported random gunfire calls dropped to 12,762 last year, th e fourth year in a row of lower totals. There were 15,753 calls in 2022 across the department’s seven patrol divisions. The new numbers came during an update on DPD’s effort to reduce response time for random gunfire from anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes. Major Yancey Nelson with DPD reminded committee members that the department has gunshot detection software, but its full potential, including using technology to provide a faster response, hasn’t been realized yet. “Right now we’re very much in a concept phase,” Nelson said, telling the committee that all the tools need to work together. “The drones being connected to the cameras, being connected to CAD (computer-aided dispatch), and being connected to gunshot detection (software).” Council member Kathy Stewart, whose district includes Northeast Dallas, said she heard random gunfire over the weekend near Audelia Road and Walnut Hill Lane, but said during the briefing she did not call police. “I should have gotten up and reported it, but once I know that we have drones that will then be dispatched to the area, I will do that,” Stewart said. “Until we have that technology, I’m just afraid it feels like it’s not anything that officers can get there quickly enough.” District 12 council member Cara Mendelsohn said continued public outreach is needed. “This is real, and it’s completely unacceptable,” Mendelsohn said. “And that’s what we all need to be saying to everyone in our communities.” In another briefing, Dallas Police data showed violent crime went down 13 percent in January compared to the same time last year, led by an 18 percent reduction in homicides. Additionally, DPD reported it has a total of 3,323 sworn officers in January, its highest staffing total since 2015. The department is working to reach a level of 4,000 sworn officers. ...read more read less