Star police report shows rising call volume and crash responses; department maintains sub‑4 minute emergency response

Star Police Chief Zach Hasting presented July public‑safety statistics to the City Council, reporting higher call volumes and a month‑to‑month increase in crash responses in and near Star.

Hasting said year‑to‑date the department had 137 total crimes; for July the department recorded 13 person crimes, seven property crimes and seven society crimes. He reported 498 citizen calls for service in July (calls that originate from 911 or nonemergency dispatch) and 2,372 proactive policing calls. The chief noted a roughly 25% increase in citizen call volume over May–July and said that many of the crashes the department responded to were on roads just outside city limits (Highway 16, Chinden/Star Road, Highway 44).

Crash responses rose to 52 in July compared with 34 in the same month a year earlier. Domestic‑violence responses were up (10 in July versus 2 a year earlier). Hasting also reported 387 traffic stops in July, 9 arrests (including 1 DUI) and 100 citations (81 infractions and 19 misdemeanors).

The department’s average code‑3 response time in Star was 3 minutes, 17 seconds in July (year‑to‑date average 2:51), below the city goal of 4 minutes. Hasting said proactive policing and public‑safety strategies have helped reduce measured crime rates; council members praised the department’s model and urged continued monitoring as schools reopen and growth continues.

Council members asked whether a recent month with no drug arrests reflected proactive deterrence or other factors; Hasting said patrol strategies and a visible presence likely played a role and that the department monitors trends closely.

Chief Hasting closed by reminding residents the department’s monthly reports are published on the City of Star website under the police page.