The North Charleston Police Department’s mid-year crime update for 2025 reveals a promising reduction in violent crimes but a concerning rise in Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests. The department’s efforts to improve staffing have played a major role in combating both crime trends.
Crime Statistics Overview
According to the report, the department has seen a notable decrease in several types of violent crime since June 2024:
Homicides decreased by 33%.
Aggravated assaults dropped by 12%.
Robberies were down by 18%.
Business burglaries decreased significantly by 80%.
Personal robberies saw a 3% decrease.
Stolen vehicles dropped by 34%.
Larcenies went down by 10%.
Gun arrests decreased by 36%.
Narcotics arrests fell by 27%.
Despite the overall decrease in crime, DUI arrests saw a substantial 48% increase. The department attributes this rise to increased staffing, which has allowed officers to focus more on proactively addressing drunk driving.
Staffing Challenges and Solutions
North Charleston Police Captain Andrew Glover explained that the department had 15 position vacancies as of May 2025, which had previously affected the availability of officers in specialized units such as traffic and K-9. With the vacancies filled, the department has added more officers to its traffic enforcement units, improving their ability to respond to DUI offenses.
“More staffing means more officers on the streets, allowing some officers to focus on specific crimes, like DUIs, while others focus on other areas,” Glover said. The department currently has four remaining positions to fill, which should continue to enhance enforcement efforts as the school year begins.
Selective Enforcement Plans
As part of their ongoing strategy, traffic officers will implement selective enforcement during the upcoming school year. The plan involves assigning officers to specific high-risk areas—especially where students are most likely to be—while other officers handle routine traffic incidents. This selective approach is expected to lead to more proactive DUI arrests, particularly during night shifts.
Encouraging Safe Driving
Captain Glover also urged drivers to be responsible and avoid driving under the influence, highlighting the importance of using alternatives like rideshare services (e.g., Uber) or calling a friend for a ride. He pointed out that using a rideshare service is not only more affordable than the potential cost of a DUI conviction but also much safer.
“Paying $80 for a safe ride home is much cheaper than facing a $10,000 bill after being caught driving under the influence—or worse, hurting someone,” Glover said. He also referenced several tragic incidents this year, where DUI crashes resulted in injury or loss of life.
