McAllen Police Report Lowest Crime Rates in 40 Years

Chief Victor Rodriguez cites community partnerships and proactive policing as key to public safety improvements.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:33pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police badge or handcuffs lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the investigative work of the McAllen Police Department in reducing crime.McAllen's police force has helped drive down crime rates to their lowest levels in decades, positioning the city as one of the safest along the Texas-Mexico border.Brownsville Today

McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez presented the city's 2026 Annual Crime Report, highlighting that 2025 saw the lowest crime rates in the last 40 years. Rodriguez attributed the sustained reductions to strong community engagement, effective policing strategies, and comparisons that show McAllen is one of the safest border cities in Texas.

Why it matters

As a border city, McAllen's public safety is a critical issue for residents and businesses. The continued decline in crime rates over nearly two decades demonstrates the city's commitment to innovative approaches that prioritize community partnerships and data-driven policing.

The details

According to the National Incident-Based Reporting System Crime Report, McAllen experienced its 19th consecutive year of declining crime rates in 2025, culminating in the lowest levels seen in the past 40 years. Police Chief Victor Rodriguez credited the McAllen community, city commission, and police officers for these public safety improvements, stating that McAllen is one of the safest border cities in Texas when compared to Brownsville, Laredo, and El Paso.

  • The 2025 crime report was released in January 2026.
  • McAllen has seen 19 consecutive years of declining crime rates.

The players

Victor Rodriguez

The police chief of McAllen, Texas who presented the city's 2026 Annual Crime Report highlighting significant reductions in crime over the past 19 years.

McAllen Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that provides data to the Crime Records Bureau for the National Incident-Based Reporting System Crime Report.

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What they’re saying

“At the end of 2025, we experienced the lowest crime in McAllen in the last 40 years. And that is the result of 19 consecutive reductions culminating to last year being the lowest in 40 years.”

— Victor Rodriguez, Police Chief

“I demonstrated the basis for that statement and it's not the first time we make it. We take a look at ourselves in McAllen and we compare ourselves to the four border cities in Texas, the four large border cities in Texas: Brownsville, McAllen, Laredo, El Paso. And then we compare ourselves also in those four and against the largest cities in the state of Texas. By far, McAllen's always the safest amongst that study of nine significant and relevant cities as it relates to McAllen.”

— Victor Rodriguez, Police Chief

What’s next

The McAllen City Commission will review the full 2026 Annual Crime Report in the coming weeks to discuss strategies for maintaining the city's public safety progress.

The takeaway

McAllen's consistent reductions in crime over nearly two decades demonstrate the effectiveness of the city's community-focused policing approach. By partnering with residents and businesses, McAllen has established itself as one of the safest border cities in Texas, providing a model for other municipalities seeking to improve public safety.