The mayor also reported that crime in North Nashville is down 13% and that auto thefts have dropped 30% citywide. The new figures build on a September update from his office, which had reported overall crime down 16% and homicides down 44% at that point in the year.

"We're seeing progress across every precinct, and that matters for how people experience their neighborhoods," O'Connell said during the briefing.

Residents' perceptions appear to be shifting along with the statistics. A 2026 survey commissioned by the Nashville Police + Public Safety Alliance found that 70% of respondents said they feel safe, up from 67% in 2025. The share who believed crime was increasing citywide fell to 49% from 58% the year before.

Impact Research conducted the survey of 1,000 residents across Nashville's 12 largest neighborhoods from Sept. 8 to 15.

The mayor highlighted particularly sharp improvements in North Nashville and Bordeaux, where the share of residents who said they feel safe rose from 60% to 76% over the past year.

The declines come as city officials continue to point to public safety investments and community-based violence prevention efforts. O'Connell said the data suggests those strategies are beginning to show results, though he cautioned that the work is not finished.

"Perception follows reality, but it also takes time," he said. "We want every neighborhood to feel the difference, not just read about it."

The full public safety survey is available through the Nashville Police + Public Safety Alliance.