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Annual report show drop in violent, gun crimes in New Bern

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published August 14, 2025 at 10:31 AM EDT
On Thursday, the State Bureau of Investigation investigated more than a dozen threats on school campuses across North Carolina, including several in ENC, and say those threats turned out to be a hoax.
(File photo: New Bern Police Department)
On Thursday, the State Bureau of Investigation investigated more than a dozen threats on school campuses across North Carolina, including several in ENC, and say those threats turned out to be a hoax.

New Bern Police Chief Patrick Gallagher has released a comprehensive annual report for 2024.

Some of the highlights:

Violent crime in the city dropped 20% compared to the three year average and property crimes were down 31 percent.

There was a nearly 50% drop in gun violence, and Gallagher credits the ShotSpotter system for the reduction.

He added that in a survey performed last year, 81% of people asked said they trust the department.

A link to the lengthy report is available HERE.
Annette Weston
Annette is an award-winning journalist based in Eastern North Carolina. Her career includes professional stops across the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast, recently culminating in a 2026 Region 8 Edward R. Murrow Award for Small Market Radio Best News Series for her work on the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Series. Guided by a passion for human-interest storytelling, she focuses on narratives that touch hearts and connect communities. A mother of four and grandmother of two, Annette enjoys reading and creating epic Halloween costumes in her spare time. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston