LOCUST — According to a 2024 crime report, Locust has sustained its low overall level of criminal activity despite city growth resulting in increased activity and calls for service.
On Jan. 27, the Locust Police Department provided its annual statistics report, analysis report, and incident clearance statistics report for the past year — all of which are available to view on the department’s website.
Within the reports, Locust Police Chief Jeff Shew provided his written analysis on the data and results for 2024, concluding that a slight uptick in arrests compared to 2023 was proportional to area growth and expanded patrolling.
“Activities in 2024 continue to show Locust is a wonderful place to live that is very blessed with a low overall level of criminal activity,” Shew said. “With the criminal incidents that do occur, Locust officers respond quickly and investigate every incident until all practical leads are exhausted. Every criminal action is treated with a desire to bring the offender to justice, and for our officers to do everything they possibly can to successfully clear incidents at a high rate.”
The crime report shows that LPD officers fielded the second-highest number of calls and activities in 2024 (7,048) since the department began monitoring call activity.
With 680 total arrests, there were 89 more arrest charges compared to 2023, while a continued focus on elevated traffic enforcement in the city resulted in officers conducting 3,657 traffic stops with more than 4,600 traffic citations and warnings; officers patrolled Locust neighborhoods and businesses at a greater rate than 2023.
There were 32,032 business and neighborhood patrols in 2024, equating to a daily average of 87.8 patrols.
Reported traffic crashes increased by 12 for the year (258), including roadway crashes, minor parking lot crashes, and single-vehicle crashes involving deer.
Additionally, reported assaults in the city remained low with 20 reported in 2024, matching the same number as 2023. There was a 14.2% reduction in reported property crime and fraud offenses (291) this past year compared to 2023.
The LPD’s clearance report shows a slight increase (93.7%) in overall positive clearance over 2023 (93.1%), while both the department’s clearance for confirmed criminal incidents (86.7%) and property crime incidents (78.6%) were department records.
“Locust officers still patrolled Locust neighborhoods and businesses at a greater rate than 2023 with over 32,000 patrols completed, participated in extensive training classes in various disciplines, engaged in numerous community service endeavors, and continued to make connections with our city’s businesses and residents with a community policing approach that is always a top priority,” Shew said. “I am always extremely proud to work with each one of our officers, and they continued to do an outstanding job in 2024.”