DEARBORN (WWJ) — City officials in Dearborn are celebrating a massive drop in crime statistics over the last year.
Year-end public safety stats for 2024 released by the Dearborn Police Department on Wednesday showed “notable declines in the most egregious public safety incidents.”
That includes a 30% decrease in burglaries, a 35% drop in home invasion, 22% decrease in vehicle thefts and a 25% drop in robberies. The city also saw decreases in larceny (11.8%) and commercial burglaries (23%).
Dearborn saw just one homicide in 2024, a 50% decrease from two the year before.
Overall, the city’s crime rate dipped by about 7% in 2024. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and Police Chief Issa Shahin attributed the improvements on crime to a fully funded and staffed police department.
“Really one of our greatest assets and our biggest accomplishments this year is the fact that we’re fully staffed. This is the first time in nearly two decades, folks,” Shahin said at a Wednesday press conference detailing the year-end public safety stats.
He said with 188 officers, including 11 new recruits, the department is “fully equipped to meet the challenges of modern law enforcement.”
“We have the resources, we have the staff power, and we have the commitment of not only this Administration but also the Council and the (law enforcement) personnel that are here before you as well as out there working each and every single day,” Hammoud said.
In addition to a full staff, Shahin points to “the latest police technology and robust community policing practices that build trust and communications between law enforcement and the public.” That includes the department’s 13-pilot drone team, FLOCK license plate readers and more.
The drop in major incidents was “the result of a focused, deliberate strategy that combines cutting-edge technology with proactive, community-based policing,” Shahin said.
Hammoud said Dearborn was recently recognized as the second-safest “big city” in the state of Michigan last year, and he wants to reach the top spot.
“I want Sterling Heights to know that we’re coming for that No. 1 spot,” Hammoud said. “We have the resources, we have the staff power, and we have the commitment of not only this Administration but also the Council and the (law enforcement) personnel that are here before you as well as out there working each and every single day.”
“Today, we celebrate meaningful progress—but we remain focused on the work ahead,” Shahin added. “Public safety is not a destination; it’s an ongoing journey that demands innovation, collaboration, and trust.”
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