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Police report: violent crimes and robberies rose in February though part‑1 crime below five‑year average
Summary
Raleigh County Police reported February counts showing part‑1 crimes 16.5% below the five‑year average but a month‑to‑month and year‑over‑year uptick in some violent categories; police cited 12 aggravated assaults/batteries, 5 robberies and 1 homicide in February 2026 and said detectives are investigating a cluster of vehicle thefts.
Brian Pete of the Raleigh County Police Department presented February 2026 statistics and strategic priorities to the commission, saying part‑1 crime in February was 16.5% below the five‑year average but that violent crime counts were elevated compared with historical baselines.
Pete told commissioners there were 12 aggravated assaults or batteries and five robberies in February; he said those numbers represented a higher month and a jump relative to the five‑year average. "This is the highest number of part 1 violent crimes that we've seen over the past 5 years," Pete said, but added he did not believe the spike showed a sustained long‑term trend and that investigators were treating some incidents as linked to small groups or repeat offenders where appropriate.
When asked about a local series of vehicle thefts (seven recent reports, five involving Kias), Pete said detectives are investigating whether a pattern exists and will coordinate with state and federal partners. "Our investigators are working on that," he said, adding the department may reach out to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for assistance if evidence suggests wider exploitation of vehicle electronics.
Pete also reviewed motor vehicle theft recoveries (three of four recovered as of March 9), burglary and property crime counts and noted improvements enabled by new technology such as a real-time crime center that helps identify subjects more quickly.
