According to the 2018 Kansas Bureau of Investigations (KBI) Uniform Crime Analysis Report (UCR) that was released this week, Kansas is seeing an upward trend in Violent Crimes. Violent Crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault/battery. Kansas's violent crime rate is currently 16.5% above the 10-year average, which included 12,367 violent crimes statewide.

With the release of 2018 Crime Statistics, the Parsons Police Department is proud to report to the community that we have seen a major drop in the city's crime rate for the last 2 years.

Parsons, however, has shown a significant drop in the Total Crime Index from 531 in 2017 to 446 in 2018, (Total Crime for the UCR includes Homicide, Rape, Robbery Aggravated Assault/Battery, Burglary, Theft, Vehicle Theft, and Arson). Parsons had a 7.9-point drop in the crime rate over the previous year. This is the lowest crime rate for Parsons in the past decade, excepting 2014. Parsons has also seen a significant drop in property crimes. (Burglary, Theft, Vehicle Theft, and Arson), Parsons had 353 property crimes in 2018, which is down from 451 in 2017.

Coffeyville and Pittsburg have both shown an increase in criminal activity. Parsons is now behind Pittsburg, Coffeyville, and Independence in the crime rate. Chanute only reported to the KBI for 4 months in 2018 and 6 months in 2017.

Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks says, "this report shows the community that as a Department we are making a difference, and despite what you may occasionally read on social media, the Parsons Police Department have been effecting change and in a very positive way." Spinks continued "if we are able to effect change when staffing is short, I am excited to see what will come when we are fully staffed."

The Parsons Police Department has been short-staffed due to several local private industry jobs paying entry level employees more than officers top out at. This combined with two retirements, and injuries has led to a handful of new hires. Spinks says, "I am working diligently with city staff to ensure that we can compensate Police and Fire employees with what they need."

While Parsons has a history of having a high crime rate, for well over a decade, this report shows a much-needed drop in the crime rate. "In fact, it is one of the lowest crime rates in over a decade" says Spinks.  If citizens would like to see the numbers for themselves they can go to http://www.kansas.gov/kbi/stats/stats_crime2018.shtml.

"In fact, the crimes rate today is half of what it was a decade ago," said Sergeant Jason Ludwig.

Spinks said "we have high expectations for our community, and it all starts by keeping it safe. This is the kind of report that really shows that the Department is succeeding in our mission. This is a never-ending journey that will have ups and downs. As long as we can continue to partner with the good citizens of Parsons to ensure a citywide commitment to "See It, Hear It, Report It," we will continue to bring those who commit crimes to justice, this journey will be a successful one."

The police department will put out a more comprehensive local report for 2019 in early 2020 for a more transparent look at the Parsons Police Department operations.