Police Chief touts crime reduction in downtown San Bernardino

In a statement released January 4th, San Bernardino Police Chief Darren L. Goodman announced crime rates in downtown have been greatly reduced over recent years.

“Crime rates in downtown San Bernardino have decreased by almost half over the past five years,” said Police Chief Darren L. Goodman. “This positive trend includes a decline in burglaries, aggravated assaults, and, notably, there have been very few homicides this year.” Crime rates in the rest of the City have also declined by more than 30 percent.

Downtown serves as the City’s government and business center, with 38,250 people working there and 50,567 residents living there. It is home to 2,756 businesses that help sustain a lively economy, generating $6.7 billion in sales in 2024.

According to the San Bernardino Police Department (SBPD), statistics show in the 1st Ward that aggravated assaults declined from 399 in 2020 to 206 in 2025. Robberies decreased from 199 to 102 during the same period. Burglaries dropped from 237 in 2020 to 134 so far in 2025. Homicides fell from 15 in 2020 to 4 in 2025.

The SBPD attributes the declining crime rates to a combination of proactive policing and community support.

“San Bernardino has achieved significant progress,” said Chief Goodman. “Violent crime has decreased, and we are proud of the efforts our officers and the community have made to reach this point. With new technology, including expanded crime-camera coverage downtown, we’re enhancing our ability to prevent violence and safeguard our neighborhoods.”