The crime numbers changed, and the surveillance grew
Hoover reports falling crime year after year, but its own 2024 totals changed between two council presentations, and the city has published no retention or oversight policy for its drone and camera network.
Where it stands
Not fixed
Hits residents
5/10
Years covered
2025–2026
Sources
3 linked
- 257
- Difference in reported 2024 arrest totals between two council presentations
- 15
- Police drones in service as of January 2025
- 7%
- Reported drop in Group A offenses in 2025
As of 2026-05
As of 2025-01
As of 2026-05
What happened
Hoover police reported Group A offences fell 10 percent in 2024 and a further 7 percent in 2025, crediting added officers, technology, and state law changes. But the department’s own reported 2024 figures shifted between presentations: arrests were given as 3,083 in January 2025 and as 2,826 in May 2026, a difference of 257, and auto break-ins as 201 and then 184, with no public explanation for the change. Separately, Hoover expanded to 15 drones by January 2025, built out a license-plate-reader network, and created a dedicated police intelligence unit, partly funded by a federal grant. The city has not published a data-retention period, audit procedure, or usage report for any of these systems. No Hoover officer has been accused of misusing the technology, and Hoover was not named in 2026 reporting on license-plate-reader misuse at other Alabama departments.
Timeline
Chief Derzis reported 2024 crime down 10%, with 3,083 arrests and 15 drones in service.
Hoover Sun (hooversun.com) ↗Chief Morris reported 2025 crime down 7%, with the 2024 arrest baseline revised to 2,826.
Hoover Sun (hooversun.com) ↗Reporting on license-plate-reader misuse at other Alabama departments did not name Hoover.
ABC 33/40 (abc3340.com) ↗
Who's involved
Nick Derzis
Police chief through 2025; now mayor
Chief Clay Morris
Police chief from November 2025
Hoover City Council
Receives the annual crime presentations
The other side
The department attributes the declines to added officers, technology, and the Alabama Retail Theft Crime Prevention Act. It has not addressed the discrepancy between its two sets of 2024 figures in any source reviewed. No Hoover official has been accused of misusing surveillance technology.
Open questions
- The city has not published an explanation for the revised 2024 crime figures.
- Hoover’s data retention period, audit procedure, and license-plate-reader vendor are not published in any source reviewed.
Sources (3)
- 1Hoover crime down 10% in 2024, police chief tells councilHoover Sun · Jan 22, 2025 · hooversun.com
- 2Crime on the decline: overall crime dropped 7% last yearHoover Sun · May 15, 2026 · hooversun.com
- 3Flock camera misuse cases renew debate over privacy and oversight in AlabamaABC 33/40 · Jul 28, 2026 · abc3340.com
Last checked July 29, 2026