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Canton Police present 2024 operational report: population growth, calls and crime trends
Summary
Canton Police presented their 2024 annual operational report showing population growth, a 32% increase in calls for service, a steady crime profile with zero homicides in 2024, and staffing and training updates.
The Canton Police Department presented its 2024 operational report to mayor and council on May 1, reporting an estimated 2024 population of about 38,305, a 3% annual growth rate since 2020, and a 32% increase in calls for service compared with several years prior.
Alec Robles, the department crime analyst, presented the report and outlined key metrics. Robles said the department recorded 31,490 calls for service in 2024 — a 16% year-over-year increase from 2023 and a roughly 32% rise over the past several years — which he attributed in part to population growth and increased staffing. The department reported zero homicides in 2024. Robles said property crimes remained the largest category, accounting for about 58% of Group A crimes, consistent with 2023 figures.
Robles described Group A crimes as the more serious offenses (crimes against persons, property and society) and noted that incident counts sometimes reflect victims rather than distinct incidents (for example, a single aggravated assault with multiple victims is counted per victim). Larceny, including retail shoplifting at major stores such as Target and Walmart, continued to be the most frequent crime by count.
Traffic crashes fell slightly: the department reported 45 fewer accidents than in 2023, a 3.2% reduction. Arrests edged up modestly, while citations and warnings rose about 33%, which Robles attributed to expanded traffic operations by the special operations division after it became fully staffed.
Robles also reported on the Criminal Investigations Division: a fully staffed CID with two sergeants and five detectives handled 585 cases in 2024; 69 of those cases remained active at the start of 2025. The division’s clearance rate was roughly 51%, which Robles said meets departmental targets. Evidence intake and disposition figures were also presented (872 items received, 1,018 items disposed), and the department logged 3,874 hours of training in 2024, including 1,258 in-house training hours.
Chief Marty Ferrell introduced Robles and credited him with producing the report. Council members thanked the department for staffing improvements and the reported safety trends.
