Jasper County Sheriff's Office reflects on 2024 crime numbers

CARTHAGE, Mo. — 2024 was a busy year for Jasper County law enforcement - according to a new report from the sheriff's office.

"There's any real takeaway is that we are at pre-COVID numbers on calls for service," said Jasper Co. Sheriff Randee Kaiser.

In fact, that's 34,741.

It's nearly a match for 2020, when the COVID pandemic cut what had been yearly increases... according to Jasper County Sheriff Randee Kaiser.

"Had gone against the previous trend. The previous decade-long trend was calls for service would go up a little bit every year after COVID. They went down. This year, they're back up to almost at pre-COVID numbers," said Kaiser.

Many of those dealt with traffic -- especially reports of careless and imprudent driving.

"A lot of that stems from individuals using electronic devices when they drive. And they, you know, drive off onto the shoulder, and then somebody will call 911, as they should, and report that this person's driving carelessly. And we get, you know, in excess of about 1100 - 1200 of those calls a year," said Kaiser.

Kaiser says a new law making that a ticketable offense could cut down on numbers in 2025.

But more calls for service also mean crime reports were also up.

That includes stealing, sex crimes, and crimes against children.

"More and more instances of kids being victimized through internet-connected devices. I'm talking about teenagers will be encouraged to send pictures. And when they send pictures, they then they turn around, they get blackmailed. And we count that as a crime against children, a child," said Kaiser.

The sheriff's office will continue an education program, partnering with the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force to help parents and grandparents recognize online risks... and minimize those.