Crime in Merced continues downward trend. Here’s why, according to police chief
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Merced crime rates fell in 2025, with double-digit drops in most major categories.
- Police cite staffing boosts, new cameras and proactive strategies for reductions.
- Measure C tax renewal helped maintain police and fire department staffing.
Crime rates in Merced have continued the downward trajectory seen during the year’s first quarter, according to police Chief Steven Stanfield.
Recent statistics from the department show declines in traffic collisions (-21.56%), juvenile arrests (-27.93%), vehicle burglaries (-40.5%), residential and commercial burglaries (-30%), robberies (-30%), auto thefts (-38%), sexual assaults (-12%), and homicides (-20%) for Jan. 1 through Aug. 10, compared to the same time frame last year.
While many crime metrics are down, adult arrests are up 54% and traffic citations are up 109% .
Stanfield credits newly installed camera systems, proactive policing strategies, improved staffing, and community support for the declines in reported crime.
“This is not a place where you want to come up and commit a crime because this is a highly staffed, very proactive police agency that if you’re going to come commit a crime in this town … they’re going to catch you and they’re going to arrest you.” Stanfield said. “They have the resources and manpower to do it.”
Currently, the department has 10 fixed “Blue Light” cameras installed around town with an additional two mobile camera trailers. The chief expects the department to add 12 more fixed cameras by the end of the year.
Stanfield believes there is a correlation between an increase in traffic enforcement and an increase in compliance which leads to fewer auto collisions. The department has seen a 21.5% reduction in collisions so far this year versus the same period last year, he said.
“We know that Mercedians are passionate about their safety,” Stanfield said. “We know this because they were very open in telling us that they wanted street safety to be a priority for us as a police department.”
Mayor Matthew Serratto acknowledged civil liberty and privacy concerns surrounding the use of the blue-light cameras, but he contends the Merced community is supportive of the cameras as a way to proactively combat crime.
“It adds to safety, which is the biggest thing,” he said. “So, most people, the vast majority of people are in support.”
Residents voted to enact Merced Measure C in March 2024, which renewed an existing 0.5% sales tax for 20 years with 95% of the revenue for police and fire protection. Serratto credits Measure C with keeping public safety staffing intact.
“Without Measure C, we would have lost approximately 20 police and fire jobs,” he said.