When a call for service becomes a crime report, a Uniform Crime Report (UCR) number is assigned to the primary offense. The UCR standards are used to compare with local and nationwide cities with similar populations. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) sets these standards. Glendale Police Department participates voluntarily and submits crime data to the Department of Public Safety, a state coordinating agency for the Arizona Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
On January 1, 2021, the FBI transitioned to a
National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS). The goal of NIBRS is to improve the overall quality of crime data collected by law enforcement by capturing details on each single crime incident -as well as on separate offenses within the same incident- including information on victims and offenders, arrestees, and property involved in crimes. The Glendale Police Department will begin the transition from UCR to NIBRS in 2023.