Violent crime edges up, but property crime continues to plummet in Dalton

Published 8:15 am Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Violent crime rose in Dalton through the end of May compared to the same period in 2024, according to data presented recently to the city’s Public Safety Commission. Property crime fell.

The commission members oversee the city’s police and fire departments.

There were 34 violent crimes through the end of May, up from 27 in the same period in 2024. Violent crime includes homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

There were 232 property crimes, down from 287 in 2024.

There were three homicides through the end of May this year up from none in 2024.

Four rapes were reported, down from five; one robbery, down from four; 15 burglaries, down from 34; five motor vehicle thefts, down from 18; and 26 aggravated assaults, up from 18.

Compared to the five-year average, violent crime was up 3.7% through the end of May and property crime was down 27.6%.

There were 113 vehicle crashes in May, down from 118 in April.

Dalton police officers responded to 24 crashes with injuries in May. Those resulted in 34 people injured with two serious injuries and no fatalities.

Failure to yield played a role in 20 crashes and following too closely played a role in 22.

Fridays had the most crashes with 22, followed by Thursdays with 20. Saturdays had the fewest crashes with nine. The period from 4 p.m. to 6:59 p.m. had the most crashes with 23.

Walnut Avenue had the most crashes with 22.

The Dalton Fire Department answered 316 calls in May, according to data presented to the commissioners. Of those, 181 were medical.

Twenty-one calls were for motor vehicle wrecks with injuries, and 10 were for motor vehicle wrecks without injuries. Three were for gas leaks. Twenty-one calls were canceled while firefighters were on their way.