KBI reports statewide drops in many crimes but flags child victimization, fentanyl and staffing needs

Bob Stewart, executive officer of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, told the Joint Committee on Kansas Security on Oct. 24 that many of Kansas’s traditional index crimes fell in 2024 but that serious threats and gaps remain.

Stewart opened with the broad picture: "In 2024, 12,643 violent crimes were reported" and overall violent crime was down, he said. He told the committee that murders fell to 117 — about 24% below the 10‑year average — and that thefts, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts all declined. At the same time, he said, aggravated assaults were up, reporting 10,597 incidents — 7.8% above the 10‑year average and a 32.4% rise from pre‑COVID numbers.

Stewart placed the data in context and warned against complacency: even with declines, "we still have 12,643 victims of violent crime" and many offenses go unreported. He described motor‑vehicle theft as the most reliably reported offense because of insurance claims and said the 7,407 motor‑vehicle thefts in 2024 (a 7.2% drop from the 10‑year average) support the broader downward trend in reported crime.

Nut graf — why it matters: Stewart said the mix of falling and rising figures matters for resource planning and public safety. He told lawmakers the state’s ability to detect, investigate and prosecute serious crimes depends on consistent reporting to the Kansas Incident Based Reporting System (KIBRS), timely lab results, and…