The city of Gainesville approved a housing Incentives and Recommendations Report at a Thursday regular meeting, where the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) reported drops in crime. 

In GPD’s report for January through September, all violent and property crimes trended 16% lower than for the same period in 2022, 2023 and 2024. So far in 2023, GPD has only reported three homicides compared to eight at this time last year.  

“We’re starting to see a trend of less, and that’s a very good thing,” said Maj. Jaime Kurnick about shots fired calls. 

GPD has seized 210 firearms so far this year, including 27 firearms reported stolen.  

GPD reported 3,373 property crimes so far in 2025, and the department issued 2,181 traffic citations and 1,114 traffic warnings from July through September. 

The department has hired 28 employees this year and has 25 sworn vacancies. 

Annual violent crime comparison for January through September:  
 

Homicide 

• 2022: 7 

• 2023: 10 

• 2024: 8 

• 2025: 3 

Rape 

• 2022: 139 

• 2023: 123 

• 2024: 112 

• 2025: 109 

Robbery 

• 2022: 114 

• 2023: 136 

• 2024: 158 

• 2025: 88 

Aggravated Assault 

• 2022: 466 

• 2023: 511 

• 2024: 495 

• 2025: 452 

The city of Gainesville is required to adopt an Incentives and Recommendations Report (IRR) on housing each year to receive state SHIP funding. The IRR is created annually by the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and gives recommendations on parking limits, setback requirements, affordable housing policy, impact fees and other housing policies.  

This year, the IRR mostly recommended continued analysis of recent city changes, from the inclusionary zoning policy and single-family zoning reform to accessory dwelling units and expedited reviews. 

The IRR also urged the City Commission to increase preservation of neighborhoods’ unique qualities, especially in areas undergoing rapid change. The committee asked the city to consider anti-gentrification measures and anti-displacement measures, but didn’t list recommendations on what those might be.  

The City Commission adopted the IRR unanimously.