NewsChannel 9 reported a significant drop in Chattanooga’s homicides and shootings in 2025, with criminal homicides down 48 percent and non-fatal shootings down 26 percent compared to the prior year. UTC criminal justice expert Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt explained that while data should be interpreted cautiously, the decline is striking and likely tied to intelligence-led, data-driven, community-focused policing efforts. He noted that removing high-risk individuals from circulation contributes to the substantial crime drop.>>>Watch>>>