It’s safe to say many Chattanoogans received some unexpected and surprising news Monday: Despite two high-profile mass shootings here last summer, city residents saw fewer shootings throughout 2022 than anytime in the past decade.
We also saw fewer people shot and fewer homicides last year than anytime since 2018.
While any shooting is one to many, fewer shootings — and drops in a number of other crimes like aggravated assault, drug crimes and DUIs — is not the perspective of most people in Hamilton County.
Fifty-two percent of Hamilton County voters surveyed at polling sites in November by the Chattanooga Times Free Press said they believe crime in and around Chattanooga is getting worse overall. Only 4.8% of voters who participated in the poll said they think crime is decreasing locally, and 1 in 6 people surveyed said crime is the biggest problem facing our county. As a matter of fact, crime ranked second only to education as the top issue on voters’ minds, our polling found.
Now it’s true that some crimes are increasing: The city saw a 21% increase in robberies and a 7% rise in shoplifting. Burglaries and other thefts went down slightly, according to police data.