West 7th Street had fewer violent crimes than Fort Worth's other three entertainment districts, according to police data from March 2023 to March 2024.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth Police Department leaders say they hope newly released crime data will allay concerns about safety in the West 7th entertainment district.
The nightlife spot's reputation has deteriorated since a stranger randomly shot and killed TCU student Wes Smith outside the popular West 7th bar in September.
But West 7th Street had fewer violent crimes than Fort Worth's other three entertainment districts, according to police data from March 2023 to March 2024. Downtown had 79 violent crimes, Near Southside had 63 violent crimes, Stockyards had 35 violent crimes, and West 7th had 31 violent crimes.
“Perception is not always reality,” Fort Worth Police Chief Robert Aldredge told WFAA on Tuesday. “People hear about these high-profile incidents… That doesn't mean it's a standard occurrence that happens in West 7th Ward. West 7th Ward is a safe place.”
In 2023, there were 155 crimes against people in the West 7th Ward, a 15% decrease from 183 in 2022. Property crime also fell by 20%.
Crimes against society, such as drunk driving and illegal drug possession, increased by 47% from 2022 to 2023. Fort Worth police say this is the product of an “aggressive enforcement” strategy that led to more searches and subsequent arrests.
“We started doing more traffic stops and started having a little bit more conversations with people in the community,” Alldredge said. “Because of them, we were able to make arrests and remove 182 guns from our streets from 2022 to today.”
Aldredge says there is “no doubt” that high-profile violent incidents can have a long-term impact on the public's perception of the region as a whole. He noted that West 7th is frequented by people from all over DFW and tourists from other states, meaning the area will be subject to increased scrutiny.
Despite the improved numbers, the city of Fort Worth has spent more than $500,000 to improve safety in the area since Smith's death.