NEWS RELEASE
Palm Coast Survey Shows Strong Community Confidence in the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Services
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2026
The City of Palm Coast’s newly released 2026 National Community Survey delivered a clear message: residents feel safe in Palm Coast. In the survey, 96% of respondents reported feeling safe in their neighborhoods during the day, reflecting the real-world impact of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing crime-reduction strategies under Sheriff Rick Staly.
That level of neighborhood confidence is supported by measurable results. FCSO’s 2025 crime statistics show the overall crime once again fell – this time by 32% compared to 2024, with crimes against persons down more than 27%, crimes against property down more than 26%, and crimes against society down more than 36%. As crime continues to be reduced, despite huge population increases, residents are experiencing a positive difference in their day-to-day lives where 96% feel safe in their neighborhood.
With 92% of respondents saying they feel safe in Palm Coast’s downtown and commercial areas during the day, the survey results reinforce what residents are experiencing across the city and county. When asked about specific concerns, 84% reported feeling safe from property crime and 88% reported feeling safe from violent crime, a nine-point increase compared to 2024. More than 90% of respondents reported feeling safe during the day.
The survey also gave strong marks for FCSO in areas tied directly to crime prevention and quality-of-life issues. Respondents rated Sheriff’s Office services at good or better at 85% and crime-prevention efforts at 83%.
“Public safety and reducing crime are our top priority, and these results show our strategies are working,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “When crime goes down and residents feel safer in their neighborhoods, that’s exactly the outcome our team works hard for every day. We will keep investing in our Guardianship Policing philosophy, proactive enforcement, and the latest technology to prevent crime, catch offenders, and keep Palm Coast and all of Flagler County safe.”
FCSO’s crime-reduction strategy combines community partnership, targeted enforcement, and intelligence-led policing. By working with the community through Guardianship Policing, focusing resources where they have the greatest impact, and using real-time information and technology to support rapid response and investigative follow-up, FCSO continues to deliver results that residents can see and feel in their daily lives.
Over 50 percent reduction in crime under Sheriff Staly
The survey was administered Jan. 30 through March 15, 2026, by the National Research Center. Residents can view the full survey results on the City of Palm Coast’s website.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) is an accredited full-service law enforcement agency serving Flagler County, Florida, and is dedicated to public safety, community engagement, and professional law enforcement, detention and court services. FCSO is the sole law enforcement provided for the City of Palm Coast and has a contract with the city to provide an enhanced level of service for city residents.
“I would like to thank Palm Coast Mayor and council along with the Board of County Commissioners for their partnership,” added Sheriff Staly. “For without their support to provide funding and staffing we would not have been able to accomplish these extraordinary results for our community.”
FCSO operates specialty units and programs designed to reduce crime and enhance community safety and apprehend offenders, including (not limited to) Offender Programs and Services (Court and Detention Services Division), PACE, SIU, Homeland Security Section, Cyber Crimes and Criminal Intelligence Unit, Youth Services Section, Bike Patrol, SWAT, Dive Team, Drone Unit, Traffic Unit, Motors Unit, K-9 Unit, Marine/Agriculture Unit, RTCC, C.O.P. and Posse. The Public Information Office and Community Engagement Units support community engagement and transparency.