Atlanta Crime Down 14% This Year, but Transit Violence Keeps Public on Edge

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0400

By the numbers, Atlanta is having one of its safest years in recent memory. The Atlanta Police Department reported a 14% year-to-date decrease in overall crime through mid-June, with steep declines across several categories that have long frustrated residents and business owners.

But statistics tell only part of the story. A series of high-profile random violent incidents on the city’s transit system has put public safety back at the top of the conversation — and tested whether data-driven progress can overcome the visceral fear that a single headline can produce.

Crime-Statistics on WACN 21 News

Atlanta Crime Down 14% This Year, but Transit Violence Keeps Public on Edge