The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office released its 2025 crime data on January 21, 2026, showing a continued and significant reduction in reported crime across all major categories compared to the previous year. The overall crime rate fell from 2,874.2 to 1,970.5, a 32 percent decrease, despite what officials describe as fast population growth in the county.
Crimes against persons saw 817 reported offenses in 2025, down from 1,121 in 2024, a 27 percent decline. Assault-related offenses, which make up the majority of that category, dropped from 1,043 incidents to 760. Aggravated assaults declined from 100 cases to 88, and sex offenses fell from 57 to 43.
Property crime followed a similar trend, falling 26 percent from 1,575 reported offenses in 2024 to 1,159 in 2025. Burglary offenses decreased from 84 incidents to 69, with the majority occurring at homes under construction, which the agency attributes to the effectiveness of its C.O.P. Vacation Watch and Neighborhood Watch programs. Larceny and theft offenses saw a 28.6 percent drop, falling from 639 cases to 456.
The largest decline came in crimes against society, which fell more than 36 percent from 943 offenses in 2024 to 602 in 2025. Drug and narcotics offenses, which make up the bulk of that category, dropped from 854 cases to 539. Overdoses were cut nearly in half, falling from 42 to 22. The agency noted that fentanyl and the opioid epidemic remain a nationwide concern, and that it partners with Epic Behavioral Health, Flagler Cares, and other organizations to connect people struggling with addiction to treatment. The Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility also offers the Successful Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Treatment Program, and deputies carry Narcan to assist individuals who have overdosed.
“I commend our team for once again delivering another year of crime reduction for our community, despite our fast population growth,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “This could not have been possible without our partnership with the community using our Guardianship Policing philosophy to serve and police with the community and the support of the Board of County Commissioners and the Mayor and Council Members of the City of Palm Coast. Without these partnerships and support, we would not have the resources to deliver crime reductions for the community every year since I’ve been Sheriff. Because of this support, today we are a technological advanced agency using modern equipment and recognized as a leader in law enforcement services.”
The data is tracked through the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which collects information from more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office began reporting crime data using the National Incident-Based Reporting System, known as NIBRS, in 2024. NIBRS replaced the older Summary Reporting System and captures significantly more detail, including information on up to 10 offenses per incident covering weapons offenses, drug offenses, domestic violence, child and elder abuse, hate crimes, white-collar crime, and terrorism. Because of this change in how crime data is collected, the agency notes that comparisons cannot be made between data collected before 2024 under the old system and data collected under NIBRS.
The crime statistics are reported through the Florida Incident-Based Reporting System, the state’s implementation of NIBRS. The agency notes that these systems are continuously updated, meaning statistics are accurate at the time of publication but may change as investigations progress, old crimes are reported, cases are cleared, or offenses are reclassified.
