Statement from the Gloucester City Republican Committee

Date: August 28, 2025

 

The Gloucester City Republican Committee stands firm in our call for accountability and action on the rising crime rates plaguing our community. For too long, the Gloucester City Government has failed its residents by halting the public release of crime reports over two years ago. This lack of transparency has left our citizens in the dark, unable to assess the true state of safety in our town. Now, only when faced with criticism from our party, the Gloucester City Democratic Party has selectively released the Police Chief’s report—shared exclusively with Democratic Council members—attempting to paint a rosy picture of crime in Gloucester City. We reject this misleading narrative and demand real solutions.  

 

The Facts Speak for Themselves

 

The Democratic Party points to a statistic claiming that only 0.01% of 1,996 calls for service in July 2025 resulted in 28 crimes against people, suggesting crime is under control. This figure is a deliberate distortion. The full Police Chief’s report, which they conveniently withheld until now, reveals a far graver reality:

 

Total Crimes in July 2025: 85 incidents, including 12 burglaries, 19 shoplifting cases, 12 thefts, 4 motor vehicle thefts, 7 narcotics offenses, 2 weapons offenses, and 1 sex crime—far beyond the 28 “crimes against people” they highlight.

 

Violent Crime: 6 incidents (2 robberies, 3 aggravated assaults—including 2 against police officers and 1 domestic violence case—and 1 sex crime), translating to an annualized violent crime rate of approximately 6.3 per 1,000 people.

 

Property Crime: 47 incidents (12 burglaries, 12 thefts, 19 shoplifting cases, 4 motor vehicle thefts), yielding an annualized property crime rate of about 49.6 per 1,000 people.

 

Overall Crime Rate: When annualized based on July’s data, Gloucester City faces approximately 90 crimes per 1,000 people per year.

 

With a population of approximately 11,372, this means 1 in 134 residents could be a victim of crime each month—a stark contrast to the Democratic Party’s reassuring spin. Compare this to national averages: the U.S. violent crime rate is around 3.0–3.5 per 1,000 people annually, and the property crime rate is 15–18 per 1,000, with an overall rate of 20–22 per 1,000. Gloucester City’s rates are double or triple these figures, even as national crime has declined by 17% for homicides and 10% for aggravated assaults in 2025.  

 

A Misleading Metric

The Democratic Party’s reliance on the 0.01% figure—derived from calls for service, which include non-criminal events like accidents and wellness checks—is a sleight of hand. This metric obscures the per-capita crime burden on our small town, where safety should be a priority. Their selective release of data, after years of silence, suggests an intent to mislead rather than inform, eroding public trust.

 

Leadership’s Failure

The Gloucester City Government’s decision to stop sharing crime reports over two years ago is indefensible. This opacity has hidden the escalation of issues like the 16 domestic violence incidents and 7 narcotics offenses reported in July alone. While national trends show improvement, Gloucester City lags, with property crimes like shoplifting (19 cases) and burglaries (12 cases, 8 involving unlocked vehicles) signaling preventable vulnerabilities. Current leadership’s inaction—compounded by their delayed and partial disclosure—has left residents at risk.

 

Our Plan Forward

The Gloucester City Republican Committee proposes:

 

Restored Transparency: Monthly public crime reports, not hidden from view for years or released only under pressure.

 

Increased Policing: More patrols and community policing to address hotspots, especially given the 3 aggravated assaults and 2 weapons offenses.

 

Community Action: Programs targeting poverty (14.1% rate) and education to reduce crime’s root causes, paired with incentives for securing homes and vehicles.

 

Accountability: A public forum to hold leadership accountable for the crime increase and their response.

 

We will not let the Democratic Party turn a blind eye to the safety of Gloucester City residents. Join us in demanding action—contact your Council members, attend our upcoming town hall, and follow us on Facebook for updates. Together, we can restore safety and trust in our community.

 

Gloucester City Republican CommitteeInfo@gcgop.net  | GCGOP.net