The rate of violent crime is up in Dallas so far this year, according to the Dallas Police Department.
Statistics through the end of February show that violent crime has increased by 30 percent compared to the same time last year. The murder rate is up by nearly 32 percent. The department also reported a 48-percent increase in aggravated assaults.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown will present the report to the City Council on Monday.
Despite the statistics, residents in one of Dallas' highest crime areas said they can tell the police are fighting back.
Roy Young has lived in the Forest Audelia area of North Dallas for nearly 30 years. In that time he's seen a lot of criminal activity.
"I've seen people get shot and stabbed. I've seen fights in this parking lot. On the scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 9. That's how bad it is," Young said.
Since the beginning March, Young has noticed a much more robust police presence. It's due to the Dallas Police Department's 170-member violent crime task force. The group is responsible for targeting five of the city's highest crime areas, including Forest Audelia.
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Young has already seen a difference.
"I love to see these cops out here," he said with a smile. "It's already made a difference. Stay here for a while, let the bad guy go somewhere else."
Sgt. Leroy Quigg said the crime rate in Forest Audelia is down, but the impact the task force has had so far is about more than making arrests.
"People couldn't even walk into the stores without being approached to buy drugs or (someone) robbing them or assaulting them. The quality of life has been enhanced," he said.
Quigg credits part of the task force's early success to its commitment to community engagement. Officers are speaking regularly with customers as they walk into local businesses. They also depend on community events to have open dialogue with residents. Quigg said that helps officers build trust in a community where a mistrust of law enforcement is prevalent.
"We're letting the good people know that the police department is taking a serious step in trying to make a difference in these communities," he said.
