LANDENBERG, PA — A year defined by high call volumes, shifting crime patterns, and an emphasis on de-escalation comes into sharp focus in the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department’s 2025 Annual Report, a comprehensive accounting of law enforcement activity across New Garden, Avondale, and West Grove townships.
Covering the period from January 1 through December 31, 2025, the report outlines crime statistics, calls for service, traffic enforcement, investigations, and departmental operations, offering residents a data-driven snapshot of public safety trends in southern Chester County.
According to the report, officers responded to 3,481 calls for service in 2025, an increase over 2024 and a reflection of sustained demand for police and emergency response. The largest share of calls involved assistance to emergency medical services and fire companies, followed by traffic-related incidents, suspicious activity, and disturbances. Domestic-related calls totaled 84 across the three municipalities.
Serious violent crime remained limited in 2025, with no reported homicides across the department’s coverage area. One reported rape and one robbery were recorded in New Garden Township, while aggravated assaults totaled three across the coverage area. Property crimes continued to account for the majority of reported offenses, with 47 thefts and seven burglaries documented region-wide. Part II offenses, which include crimes such as fraud, drug violations, and simple assault, declined compared with prior years, though fraud and drug-related incidents remained persistent categories.
Traffic enforcement remained a major component of departmental activity. Officers conducted 1,267 traffic stops that resulted in citations during 2025, along with 1,041 warnings. DUI arrests dropped to 48 for the year, down from 72 in 2024, a decline the department attributes to proactive patrols and targeted enforcement initiatives.
Accident investigations reflected a mixed picture. Police investigated 229 total crashes in 2025, including one fatal accident in New Garden Township. Fourteen hit-and-run crashes were reported across the three municipalities.
The Criminal Investigations Division, staffed by one full-time and one part-time investigator, reported an overall clearance rate approaching 88 percent for assigned cases. Investigations during the year included allegations of sexual assault, burglary, fraud, and assault-related offenses. Police emphasized that all cases documented in the report involve allegations, and that any suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Use-of-force incidents remained limited. The department reported 15 incidents involving force during 2025, all of which were reviewed internally and found to be in compliance with departmental policy. No citizen complaints related to use of force were filed during the year.
Beyond enforcement, the report highlights community engagement, training, and organizational development. Officers completed extensive annual training in areas ranging from de-escalation and use-of-force policy to active threat response and lifesaving measures. The department also welcomed new hires, hosted interns, and conducted community initiatives such as a holiday toy drive benefiting local nonprofit child-care centers.
Department leadership described the annual report as a tool for transparency and accountability, intended to give residents a clear view of how police resources are deployed and how public safety challenges evolve over time.
As 2026 begins, the data paint a picture of a department balancing traditional law enforcement with community service demands, confronting crime trends while emphasizing professionalism, restraint, and preparedness in one of Chester County’s busiest regional police jurisdictions.
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