2019-044 Part I Crimes ComparisonDate: March 8. 2019 Report No. 2019-044
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Comparison of Part I crimes between Denton and similarly sized cities.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On February 19, Council Member Briggs requested information relating to how the City of
Denton compared with other same-sized cities in regard to violent and non-violent crime. Using
the best and most up-to-date comparable data, how the City of Denton compares to same-sized
cities is largely dependent on the type of crime at issue.
BACKGROUND:
The 2017 Texas DPS Crime in Texas Report contains the Part I Crime totals for cities in Texas,
which is the most recent official statistics available for comparison. Based on the U.S. Census
Bureau population estimates for 2017, the City of Denton is similar in size to Carrollton,
McAllen, Mesquite, Midland, and Waco. When compared to the other cities in the report,
Denton is fourth in population size. The figures presented below represent crime statistics for
the year 2017.
Figure 1 ‐ Total incidence of Part I Crimes
Figure 2 ‐ Part I Crimes adjusted for population
Violent Crime totals are the sum of the crime categories of Murder, Sexual Assault, Robbery and
Aggravated Assault. When compared to the other cities for the year 2017, Denton ranks third in
violent crime (416), with Waco ranking first (690) and Mesquite second (616). This ranking
holds true when crime figures are adjusted for population.
Denton ranks last in the number of murders (1) in 2017, with McAllen ranking first (7) and
Mesquite second (6). Denton had the highest number of sexual assaults (120), with Waco
second (117) and Mesquite third (74). It should be noted that both Denton and Waco contain
large university populations compared to the other cities of similar size, which may be a
City County 2017 Population Murder Sexual Assalt RobberyAggravated Assault Burglary Theft Motor Vehicle Theft Total Violent Crime Property Crime
Mesquite Dallas 143,949 6 74 244 292 773 3,642 849 5,880 616 5,264
McAllen Hidalgo 142,696 7 27 49 125 185 3,776 46 4,215 208 4,007
Waco McLennan 136,436 5 117 108 460 957 3,741 191 5,579 690 4,889
Denton Denton 136,268 1 120 94 201 422 2,357 294 3,489 416 3,073
Midland Midland 136,089 2 37 59 279 431 2,026 220 3,054 377 2,677
Carrollton Dallas 135,710 2 36 61 67 463 1,690 227 2,546 166 2,380
2017 PART I CRIMES
City County 2017 Population Murder Sexual Assalt RobberyAggravated Assault Burglary Theft Motor Vehicle Theft Total Violent Crime Property Crime
Mesquite Dallas 143,949 4.17 51.41 169.50 202.85 537.00 2,530.06 589.79 4,084.78 427.93 3,656.85
McAllen Hidalgo 142,696 4.91 18.92 34.34 87.60 129.65 2,646.18 32.24 2,953.83 145.76 2,808.07
Waco McLennan 136,436 3.66 85.75 79.16 337.15 701.43 2,741.94 139.99 4,089.10 505.73 3,583.37
Denton Denton 136,268 0.73 88.06 68.98 147.50 309.68 1,729.68 215.75 2,560.40 305.28 2,255.11
Midland Midland 136,089 1.47 27.19 43.35 205.01 316.70 1,488.73 161.66 2,244.12 277.02 1,967.10
Carrollton Dallas 135,710 1.47 26.53 44.95 49.37 341.17 1,245.30 167.27 1,876.06 122.32 1,753.74
INDEX CRIME RATE ‐ CRIMES PER 100,000 POPULATION
Date: March 8. 2019 Report No. 2019-044
contributing factor to the elevated number of sexual assaults compared with similarly sized
cities.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Mesquite McAllen Waco Denton Midland Carrollton
Violent Crime
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Mesquite McAllen Waco Denton Midland Carrollton
Murder
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Mesquite McAllen Waco Denton Midland Carrollton
Sexual Assalt
Date: March 8. 2019 Report No. 2019-044
Continuing the comparison of violent crimes, Denton ranks third in number of robberies (94),
with Mesquite being first (244) and Waco second (108). Denton also ranks fourth in aggravated
assaults (201), with Waco ranking first (460), Mesquite ranking second (292), and Midland
ranking third (279).
Property Crime totals are the sum of the crime categories Burglary, Theft and Motor Vehicle
Theft. When compared to the other cities for the year 2017, Denton ranks fourth in property
crime (3,073), with Mesquite ranking first (5,264), Waco second (4,889) and McAllen third
(4,007).
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Mesquite McAllen Waco Denton Midland Carrollton
Robbery
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Mesquite McAllen Waco Denton Midland Carrollton
Aggravated Assault
Date: March 8. 2019 Report No. 2019-044
When compared to the other cities, Denton ranks fourth in burglary (422), with Waco ranking
first (957), Mesquite second (773) and Carrollton third (463). When compared to the other cities,
Denton also ranks fourth in theft (422), with McAllen ranking first (3,776), Waco second
(3,741) and Mesquite third (3,642). Finally, Denton ranks second in motor vehicle theft (+294),
with Mesquite ranking first (+294). Carrollton is ranked third (+227).
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
Mesquite McAllen Waco Denton Midland Carrollton
Property Crime
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
Mesquite McAllen Waco Denton Midland Carrollton
Burglary
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
Mesquite McAllen Waco Denton Midland Carrollton
Theft
Date: March 8. 2019 Report No. 2019-044
CONCLUSION:
How well the City of Denton compares to same-sized cities is largely dependent on the type of
crime at issue. For non-violent property crime, the City ranks average to slightly below average
compared to these peer cities. Denton’s statistics for violent crime are less consistent depending
on the category.
In recognition of the need to craft unique solutions to crime in the City of Denton, DPD has
initiated a strategic process to address and make improvements in each Part I Crime category
through effective prevention, enforcement, and investigation. This is in addition to aggressive
efforts already underway to address those categories of crime, such as sexual assault, where
Denton is a crime category leader when compared to same sized cities.
Staff will present more information relating to plans to combat Part I crimes at a future date.
STAFF CONTACT:
Bobby Smith
Assistant Police Chief
940-349-7971
Bobby.Smith@cityofdenton.com
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
Mesquite McAllen Waco Denton Midland Carrollton
Motor Vehicle Theft