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Oshkosh police present 2025 crime report showing modest overall decline, mixed changes in categories
Summary
The Oshkosh Police Department reported a 1.4% decline in reportable index crimes from 2024 to 2025, with notable decreases in burglaries, vandalism, fraud and larceny but increases in weapons violations and THC-related enforcement challenges; the department emphasized data-vetting procedures and transparency.
The Oshkosh Police Department presented its 2025 crime-data report to the Common Council on Jan. 27, 2026, and described a largely favorable multi-category trend while flagging specific enforcement challenges.
Police Chief Smith and crime analyst Melody Bridal told the council the departments data (pulled 01/14/2026) show a 1.4% decrease in reportable index crimes, from 4,963 in 2024 to 4,889 in 2025. The department highlighted category-level changes: burglaries down 14.5%; destruction of property/vandalism down 35.3%; fraud offenses down 34.7%; larceny and theft down 10%; total crimes against persons roughly flat with a 0.6% increase. The department also recorded a drop in overall property crimes of 20.4%.
Chief Smith cautioned that percentage changes can be volatile when underlying numbers are small and described internal vetting steps before numbers are reported to the state: initial officer reports, supervisory and clerk review, and final submission to the State Department of Justice and FBI. Melody Bridal described her role in compiling, analyzing and verifying the data for publication.
The presentation flagged weapons-law violations as an item of attention in part because FBI reporting rules count fireworks offenses under weapons violations; Chief Smith said removing fireworks offenses would yield an adjusted weapons count that is "the lowest weve had since 2020." The department noted increases in OWI arrests and liquor-law violations tied to two specific incidents involving underage patrons at bars. On THC enforcement, Chief Smith said the field has grown more complex since the 2018 farm bill broadly legalized hemp products with THC thresholds (0.3%), allowing some derived products to be sold and complicating local enforcement.
Council members praised the departments transparency and asked about solvability rates and data collection processes; Chief Smith said staff can provide additional context and that the department regularly posts monthly summaries to social media.
