Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Coeur d'Alene police report cites steep long‑term decline in serious crimes
Summary
City police presented an annual report showing a decline in Part I crimes of about 23.7% in the most recent year and about 76.2% since 2014 (from 2,107 to 498 in the most recent year), while calls for service have risen to around 39,000; the department highlighted data‑driven deployments, crime analysts, diversion programs and community outreach.
The Coeur d'Alene Police Department presented its annual report to the City Council, telling elected officials and residents that serious crimes have fallen markedly over the last decade and that targeted policing and community partnerships are central to the decline.
A department presenter (introduced in the meeting as 'Hayden Police Chief Dave Hagel' in the transcript) said Part I crimes — a federal grouping that includes aggravated assault, arson, burglary and vehicle burglaries — fell 23.74% in the most recent year. The presenter also cited a long‑term decline of about 76.2% in Part I crimes since 2014, giving the raw annual totals of 2,107 in 2014 and 498 in the most recent year. The speaker framed that reduction as roughly 1,600 fewer victims compared with 12 years earlier.
The presenter said arrests have fallen modestly, that some increases in lower‑level or enforcement‑driven categories (for example DUI arrests) reflect active enforcement, and that the department uses crime analysts, field‑interview cards and community tips to link incidents and identify repeat offenders. The report also emphasized diversion options for juveniles, the role of school resource officers and collaborative investigation work on high‑profile cases, citing a recent arrest in the Susan Stratton murder as an example of detective work combined with community‑provided video evidence.
The department highlighted volunteer programs, code enforcement staff contributions, a new training facility nearing completion for force‑on‑force and high‑liability training, and outreach events such as National Night Out and 'Coffee with a Cop.' The report said downtown saw a single Part I crime in some multi‑month stretches and credited a downtown bike team and a 'bar team' for proactive work.
Councilmembers thanked the department and asked for more detail on the department’s data sources and deployment methods. The presenter said the report and underlying data would be available on the police department's website for further review.
The council did not take formal action tied to the report, which served as an informational presentation ahead of later agenda items.
