New Albany's 911 call volume more than doubled in July compared with July 2025, according to the police department's monthly report.

The New Albany Police Department logged 555 calls to 911 in July, up from 244 in July 2025. That 127% spike pushed total calls for service to 700, up from 546 a year earlier.

The single biggest driver: 911 hang-ups. Those accounted for 278 calls, or 40% of the department's total calls for service. The report does not explain what is behind the jump in hang-ups.

Other high-volume call categories included alarm drops at 71, investigative complaints at 59, reckless-driver reports at 31 and lockouts at 25.

Injury accidents doubled

The department recorded 12 injury accidents in July, double the six logged in July 2025. Total accident reports held roughly steady at 39, compared with 40 in July 2025. Property-damage-only crashes fell from 34 to 27. No fatal accidents were recorded in July, and the year-to-date fatal count for 2026 remains at zero.

Serious crime fell

Even as call volume climbed, serious crime dropped. Part I offenses totaled 13 in July, down from 37 in July 2025. Theft from motor vehicles fell from 10 to zero. Motor vehicle theft also dropped to zero. Shoplifting declined from six to two.

Part II offenses fell from 78 to 46. OVI offenses went from 10 in July 2025 to zero. Vandalism dropped from 14 to five. The report offers no explanation for the declines.

Citations, enforcement and training

Officers issued 93 citations in July, down from 127 in July 2025. Non-accident citations fell from 98 to 57, while accident-related citations rose from 26 to 31.

The department's Top 8 enforcement program, which targets specific locations for speed and traffic-control violations, logged 24 hours and 18 citations in July, up from four citations in 25 hours a year earlier. Enforcement locations included Beech Road, Mink Street, US-62 between State Route 161 and Central College Road, and Market Street, where e-bike violations were among the focus areas.

Officers also logged 924 self-initiated actions, led by 468 business checks, 232 traffic stops and 128 house checks. Those actions are separate from the calls-for-service count.

External training hours rose to 271.9, up from 144 in July 2025.

Leadership change

The July report lands as the department prepares for a change at the top. Police Chief Greg Jones announced July 27 that he will retire in November after 37 years with the department.

"The department will be in good hands moving forward," Jones said in the city's July 27 retirement announcement. The city has launched a search for the next chief.

Year-to-date through July, the department has fielded 2,753 calls to 911, compared with 1,754 over the same period in 2025. Residents can reach the New Albany Police Department's non-emergency line at 614-855-1234.