Gainesville Police Department Gives April-June 2025 Quarterly Update
At the August 21 Gainesville City Commission meeting, the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) provided officials with their second quarterly update this year, beginning on April 1 and ending June 30.
GPD Chief Nelson Moya announced year-to-date crime statistics and gun-related statistics.
Moya mentioned a statistic not included in the slides, that GPD has been assigned 245 fraud cases this past quarter, but only 16 have been solved. Moya called fraud cases “extensive” and “paper-heavy.”
Lieutenant Lisa Scott spoke about homeless outreach in the city. She said they’ve centralized their efforts at Grace Marketplace/Dignity Village, the Rosa Park Downtown bus station, the Thomas Center, the Civic Media Center, and several more locations.
Scott displayed pictures showcasing GPD’s clearing of encampments. She said the sweep on SW 2nd St took “huge coordination between [GPD], code enforcement, Public Works, [and the Community Resource Paramedicine Program].”
The bottom left photo shows a before and after of GPD’s encampment clearing at Roper Park. Scott said GPD received a referral “of an individual in that area and increased patrols regarding overnight trespassing."
Scott also shared data relating to the GPD Co-Responder unit.
Captain Summer Hallett-Kerkau presented traffic statistics.
Lieutenant Marquitta Brown presented personnel and recruiting statistics.
Moya announced that Officer Sarah Reeves received the officer of the month award in April. Moya said Reeves has defused two incidents over the past year that he believes would’ve led to mass shootings.
Mayor Harvey Ward said he's been on a ride-along with Reeves and that he’s seen her in a “variety of situations.” He called her a “superstar.”
Ward thanked GPD for their work in apprehending individuals involved in the TB McPherson Park shooting and addressed questions the commission has received regarding an internal affairs investigation relating to the incident, saying it's not their job to get in the middle.
A few days before the meeting, GnvInfo uploaded an article regarding a former GPD lieutenant calling for Moya to be placed on administrative leave over his handling of an internal affairs investigation related to the shooting.
Jack Walden
Ward went on to say, “No matter what some folks may want to put out there on social media, our crime rate is lowering, and it's because the community and particularly GPD are doing terrific, dedicated work.”
City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut said it's important to note the TB McPherson shooting suspects are from out of county, implying that individuals from outside Alachua County bring a lot of crime to Gainesville.
