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Sheriff reports seven-year crime decline in unincorporated Benton County, flags domestic assault and staffing needs
Summary
Sheriff Heck told the board that measured crime and crime rate in unincorporated Benton County declined for a seventh consecutive year in 2024, while domestic assault and harassment remain leading offenses; he outlined drug seizures, jail population figures and ongoing recruitment and retention challenges.
Sheriff Heck presented his office’s 2024 annual highlights to the Benton County Board, telling commissioners that the county saw a seventh consecutive year of declining measured crime and crime rate in unincorporated areas where the sheriff’s office has jurisdiction.
He said the most frequently reported crime in 2024 was domestic assault, followed by harassment, theft, fraud and illegal dumping. The sheriff cited a county crime-rate figure of 1,723 crimes per 100,000 people in an earlier year and reported further decline in the most recent period; he contrasted local figures with the statewide rate to place Benton County’s trend in context.
He described operational activity and statistics: the county’s public-safety answering point (PSAP) initiated about 25,297 initial complaint reports in 2024; deputies were assigned roughly 13,124 initial complaints, with traffic stops the largest share; the jail’s average daily population was 36.48 with 1,526 bookings during the year (1,188 male, 338 female). He said the jail collected more than $30,000 in inmate fees and received over $51,000 in boarding revenue from other counties and agencies.
In investigations and enforcement, the sheriff highlighted drug seizures: nearly 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, roughly 750 fentanyl pills and 17 grams (or 17 units as reported) of fentanyl powder, nearly a kilogram of cocaine, small quantities of psilocybin mushrooms and two firearms seized. He described fentanyl as a growing public-safety concern and noted naloxone availability.
On staffing, Heck said deputy ranks were full but that two deputies were currently in training and shortly to be certified; the dispatch roster is nearly fully staffed with one trainee, while the jail has several full-time vacancies (three or four) plus at least one part‑time opening. He described retention efforts (wellness committee, peer support team), recruitment marketing with an outside firm, and volunteer programs including mounted patrol hours and jail programming hours.
Commissioners asked about illegal dumping and staffing details; the sheriff described recent local incidents and confirmed training and leave status for several employees. No formal action was required; commissioners thanked the sheriff for the report.
