While some city officials cited concerns about rising crime in Bandera and Bandera County as a reason to support contracting with Flock Safety Systems, FBI crime data and city records obtained through a public information request do not show evidence of a significant increase in major crime categories during the past five years.
During a Feb. 28 town hall meeting regarding the proposed Flock camera system, Bandera City Council Member Lynn Palmer, a vocal supporter of the program, said concerns about crime influenced her support of the contract. The agreement was later rescinded by the City Council on May 12.
“The crime in Bandera and Bandera County has gone up significantly,” Palmer said. “I've lived here for 50 years, and I have seen a lot of change. You see videos all over social media where intruders are going into businesses. They [business owners] have their cameras set up.”
However, crime statistics maintained by the Bandera City Marshal’s Office and FBI data reported by the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office do not show a significant increase in major crime categories during the period reviewed.
City records show reported burglaries remained in the single digits annually between 2020 and 2025, while theft-related calls declined from 30 in 2020 to 15 in 2025.
Assaults fluctuated from year to year but showed no sustained upward trend.
Drug-related calls likewise declined during the period, falling from 10 reported incidents in 2020 to one in 2025.
FBI county crime data similarly shows relatively low numbers of reported offenses for homicide, robbery, rape, kidnapping and human trafficking.
Robberies remained rare throughout the reporting period, kidnappings and human trafficking offenses were virtually nonexistent, and homicides occurred only sporadically rather than as part of a sustained trend.
Burglary, motor vehicle theft and aggravated assault reports fluctuated from year to year but did not show a consistent upward trajectory.
Palmer also spoke about personal safety concerns.
“If a car was to pull up and be caught on my video, and I was found dead the next day, I would be very glad that we have these Flock cameras that could possibly capture the car that murdered me in my sleep,” Palmer said. “And that can happen. It happens all the time.”
She also encouraged residents to consult the county and district attorney regarding crime trends.
Bandera County Sheriff Josh Teitge and Bandera City Marshal Earl Heidelberg also attended the town hall and previously expressed support for the camera system, citing limited law enforcement staffing and the potential investigative value of automated license plate readers.
Neither law enforcement official presented a formal statistical report during the meeting showing a projected reduction in crime or demonstrating that crime had increased significantly in recent years.
Teitge told attendees that whether the city should proceed with the Flock camera system was ultimately a decision for the community to make.
One category that did show an increase was drug-related offenses reported by the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office.
FBI records show drug and narcotics violations increased in recent years, reaching 15 reported offenses in 2025.
Teitge said those figures should not be interpreted as evidence that drug activity is increasing. “Because drug crimes are self-reported internally by law enforcement agencies through arrests, buy-bust operations or informants, the only time it shows a drug stat is from enforcement action,” Teitge said.
Unlike burglary, theft or other crimes that are typically reported by victims, drug offenses are often generated through proactive investigations and arrests, Teitge said. As a result, increases in reported drug offenses can reflect increased enforcement activity rather than increased criminal activity.
“The significance is that a spike in drug crime reporting actually shows that we are doing better than in previous years in fighting drugs in the county,” Teitge said.
Crime data maintained by the Bandera City Marshal’s Office, which tracks calls and incidents within city limits, likewise shows relatively low levels of reported criminal activity over the past five years.
Palmer’s comments regarding rising crime were echoed by City Council Member Jeff Flowers and his wife, Nicole Flowers, during the town hall meeting.
Nicole Flowers shared her experience as a survivor of sexual assault and referenced statistics she said showed individuals between the ages of 10 and 14 and 18 and 21 among the most frequent victims.
Some residents questioned whether those concerns were relevant to the discussion of the camera system.
“I don't really appreciate the fearmongering,” Bandera County resident Ivy Neal said during the meeting. “I'm also a survivor of sexual assault. I don't know what that has to do with anything.”
When asked to clarify her statements regarding rising crime, Palmer provided the following response to the Bulletin.
“I have lived in Bandera County since 1977, when you left your keys in the ignition while you went shopping, until vehicles started to get stolen. You would go to sleep with your doors unlocked. Students went hunting before class and kept their guns in truck gun racks during class, with no fear they would ever go into the school and kill their classmates. You could walk to the post office or store in the city and feel safe from being approached by strangers. I cannot do that anymore, and I can’t imagine what happens to young ladies walking to work.
“That’s the Bandera I moved to. Cameras are to assist law enforcement and keep Bandera safe. Stolen vehicles, missing children and Silver Alerts, burglaries. I am always willing to listen to citizens who live in Bandera County. I don’t agree they should influence the City Council over what city residents may want for the city. County residents do not pay city taxes, nor do they vote in city elections. City residents elected me to be their voice. City voters will always override county residents’ opinions on what should happen in the city. I will always listen.”
The FBI reports and Bandera City Marshal’s reports referenced in this story are available at BanderaBulletin. com.
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