There’s good news out of Arlington County. An annual report from the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) found that, in 2025, overall crime declined for the first time since 2018.
“Each and every day, the men and women of the Arlington County Police Department report for duty with an unwavering commitment to ensuring public safety while fostering meaningful and lasting relationships designed to build and maintain trust with those we serve,” said Police Chief Andy Penn.
Crime Rates
Over the course of 2025, the overall crime rate dropped 10.9% as compared to 2024. This included all Group A offenses, including crimes against persons (such as murder, kidnapping, and assault), crimes against property (such as vandalism and arson), and crimes against society (such as drug and gambling offenses, prostitution, and weapons law violations).
Crimes against property had the greatest decrease, at 14.9%. “Nearly all Crimes Against Property offenses decreased in 2025, with notable decreases in Burglary/Breaking & Entering (-6.7%), Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property (-12.9%), Extortion/Blackmail (-47.2%), Fraud (-5.7%), Larceny/Theft Offenses (-14.4%), Motor Vehicle Theft (-48.6%), Robbery (-28.0%) and Stolen Property Offenses (-28.9%),” the report said.
Individually, some of those types of crime increased. Crimes against persons had a minor increase of 0.5% from 2024 to 2025. The report said that the primary driver for this increase was intimidation offenses, which increased by 46.2%. Crimes against society also increased by 1.7% due in part to an increase in drug equipment violations.
Meanwhile, Group B adult arrests increased by 20.3%. Group B cover curfew/loitering/vagrancy violations, disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, family offenses (nonviolent), liquor law violations, and trespass of real property.
Other Factors
ACPD “continued to make transportation safety a key area of focus through a two-pronged approach of education and enforcement,” Penn said in the report. This resulted in an increase of traffic citations and warnings by 25.9%, an increase of parking citations and warnings by 10.2%, and an increase in DUI arrests by 46.1%.
The department also expanded the PhotoSPEED program by adding 18 new cameras in school zones.
Penn identified staffing as a “significant challenge within the law enforcement profession.” To help address staffing problems, ACPD increased the starting salary for police officers to more than $90,000.
