Submitted by City of Carmel
The result of hard work and commitment to the Carmel community recently unveiled crime statistics show a decrease for the city in nearly every category.
The 2025 National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by the city includes detailed data across 46 specific crime categories.
Overall, the city once again boasts remarkably low crime rates. Property crime rates are at 7.15 per 1,000 residents, with violent crime rates at .553 per 1,000 residents – both well below the national and comparative averages.
Carmel saw significant reductions in several key crime categories including:
- Theft (excluding shoplifting): down 23 percent
- Theft from motor vehicles: down 25 percent
- Motor vehicle theft: down 21 percent
- Burglary: down 55 percent
- Aggravated assault: down 18 percent
According to Carmel Police Department (CPD) Chief Drake Sterling, the positive declines are the result of focused enforcement, proactive policing, strong investigative work, and the daily professionalism its officers bring to the department.
Sterling
“The strong commitment shown by our officers has been the single most important factor in the declines we’ve seen,” Chief Sterling said. “Thanks to Mayor Sue Finkam and our City Council, we have been able to hire and train more officers, bringing both our functional and authorized strength to the highest levels in the city’s history. We have more officers on shift, and our officers are active; stopping cars, conducting vacation checks and directed patrols, and just being visible, which is a great deterrent.”
Chief Sterling additionally credited the strong support from the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, Carmel police officers feeling empowered to do their jobs and bad actors knowing that if they commit crime in Carmel, they will be held accountable.
Technology plays a key role in the department’s success, with initiatives such as the Drones as First Responder program and the Hamilton County Real-Time Information Center proving instrumental in improving officer response times. Additionally, the Carmel Police Department has deployed 911 streaming technology, routing emergency calls directly through the patrol car, further expediting emergency response.
Chief Sterling said community engagement continues to support the reduction in crime.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a community that holds the department to high expectations and practices good vigilance,” he said. “I encourage them to continue to call when something doesn’t seem right.”
Sterling emphasized that online fraud continues to be an area calling for citizens to remain vigilant toward.
“Techniques used by fraudsters continue to evolve. Without a keen eye toward fraudulent activity, it is easy to become a victim,” Sterling said. “Criminals posing as local officials often attempt to extort money by way of threats, creating a sense of urgency in resolving a financial debt like warrants, tax payments, etc. It is best to simply not engage with these bad actors, and verify directly with proper authorities immediately.”
Sterling added that the department is addressing this type of behavior by assigning two detectives to the FBI Financial Crimes Task Force.
“Working with the FBI enhances our ability to track down suspects well outside of our jurisdictional authority, which is where many of the suspects reside,” he said.
Noting that safety is a key priority for Carmel residents and business leaders, as well as for those aspiring to live in Carmel, Mayor Finkam expressed appreciation for CPD’s impressive progress over the past year.
Finkam
“We have a strong and well-deserved reputation for safety in our community, and this data demonstrates our investment and expertise are paying dividends that our residents truly value,” she said. “I am extremely proud of the men and women of the Carmel Police Department. Their hard work and dedication help keep Carmel special.”
Carmel’s crime statistics and related information can be found here.