As 2024 drew down to an end, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office performed a preliminary review of crime data for the year. In summary, the department reports a total of 2,480 crime incidents reportable to the National Incident Based Reporting Systems (NIBRS).
The number of incidents in 2024 represented a 9% decline from the 2,716 reported in 2023, and a 23% decline from the number of incidents in 2022.
The Carson City Sheriff’s Office reports crime occurrence rates in accordance with the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to the Department of Public Safety Records and Technology Division. This reporting is further pushed to the national crimes collection points and is used to calculate national, state and local crime rates based on population data across the nation.
Based on the NIBRS calculation methodology, the Crime Rate for Carson City in 2024 will likely be assessed at approximately 44.76 per 1,000 residents, as compared to the rate estimated rate in 2023 at 49.02 per 1,000 residents. Notably, national crime rates are assessed per 100,000 residents and may differ from this preliminary calculation.
NIBRS Group A Crime Incident rates are categorized by three general groups. The areas collected include Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Property, and Crimes Against Society.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong points out that it is important to look at the individual categories, and crimes within each category, when making community safety determinations by his administration. He also points out that while we would generally like to see our crime rates pushing downwards, the departments aggressive proactive efforts in combatting drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl, pushes crime rate numbers upward.
Crimes Against Persons down 13 percent
For calendar year 2024, the total number of incidents of Crimes Against Persons reported was 742. This number represented an incident reduction of 13% as compared to the 2023 total of 848, and an incident reduction of 14% from the total reported in 2022. During 2024, the department’s internal measures have calculated monthly Violent Crime indicators. Like other crime data, the Violent Crime Indicators have trended downwards from approximately 20 per month in calendar year 2021 down to approximately 15 per month by the end of 2024.
During 2024, Simple Assaults accounted for the greatest percentage of incidents against persons. Of the 742 offenses against persons, 480 of the incidents reported were categorized by officers as a misdemeanor level Simple Assaults. This measure has been generally consistent for the past three years. More egregious, Aggravated Assaults made up the second greatest number of Crimes Against Persons, accounting for 110 or 15% of the total incidents reported.
Property crimes down 26 percent in 2024
For calendar year 2024, the total number of reported incidents of Crimes Against Property was 833. This represented an incident reduction of 26% as compared to the 2023 total of 1,128, and an incident reduction of 41% from the total reported in 2022. The offense of Simple Larceny made up the greatest proportion of offenses against property, accounting for 39% of the total. Other major contributing offenses included Vandalism and Fraud, together accounting for 39% of the total.
Drug related incidents
The third category of offenses is grouped as Crimes Against Society. Of the 739 incidents recorded in 2024, 668 or 90%, were reported drug related incidents. This proactive effort of targeting Drug Violations was just one incident less than the total number of incidents in 2023. According to Sheriff Furlong, while the entire department is responsible for targeting drug related incidents, the Special Enforcement Team is the primary unit of assignment that proactively seeks opportunities to mitigate crime by targeting those who are likely suspects, frequently drug addicted users.
The longer-term goals of attacking drug related offense are seated in the reduction of Violent Crime and the occurrences of Overdose and Suicide cases. All the efficiency models for effectiveness in the Sheriff’s tracking mechanisms have shown progress during 2024. The Coroner’s Office reported an approximate 50% decline in Overdoes Deaths in 2024 with 14 reported incidents as compared to 29 in 2023. Likewise, suicide deaths, while not always drug related, dropped from 23 in 2023 down to 18 in 2024.
Traffic fatalities down since 2023
Although not reported as a NIBRS related incident, Traffic Accidents resulting in deaths, including pedestrians, is a major leading indicator of mission direction. In 2024, the department investigated one incident of a fatality on Carson City’s roadways, excluding Nevada State Police jurisdictions. This single fatality was compared with six deaths in 2023 and seven in 2022.
Sheriff Furlong targets the total accidents as a leading indicator of success within the Traffic Management Unit. During the calendar year of 2024, a total of 513 accidents were recorded, down 15% from the total in 2023 of 437. Further breaking this data down, there were 383 non-injury accidents, down 12% from the 2023 total, and 130 accidents involving injuries, down 20% from calendar the calendar year 2023 total. Sheriff Furlong continues to use education and awareness as primary methods for reducing the incident rates followed by strict enforcement directions to the Traffic Management Unit.
CCSO creates Real Time Information Center, assists with creation of Child Advocacy Center
According to Sheriff Furlong, internal adjustments inside the department during 2024 create optimism for the upcoming year. At midyear, the Investigations Division implemented an advanced technology driven investigations section dedicated to locating, identifying and resolving investigations throughout the department more rapidly and efficiently.
Known as a Real Time Information Center, this position allows for a collection of information sources and technologies to aid Deputies and Detectives in resolving cases. The division also assisted in the creation of a “non-profit” Child Advocacy Center, under the direct management of the Carson City Rural Child Advocacy Center, opening that enhances the departments responses and investigations into sexual assaults. This quality-of-life initiative has already had a tremendous impact on the timeliness and investigative sufficiency of cases being reported, as well as on-going care of child victims of crime.
Sheriff Furlong highlighted the 2024 Top 10 Call for Service summary published each year. Within the report, he notes with pride that no criminal activity is highlighted in the given “24-hour Period” reporting block. This suggests well that a continued high quality of life in Carson City is shared.
Community cooperation
Residents, families, and businesses in Carson have a strong relationship for caring for one-another. As in years past, Welfare Checks remain at the top call for service performed by the Sheriff’s Deputies with 2,637 calls received. Unwanted Persons and Suspicious Vehicles rounded out the top three reasons for a patrol response with a combined total of 2,262, and Mobile Outreach Safety Team (MOST) calls for service came in at the fourth position with 834 calls. This summary of call types strongly suggests a well engage community with sincere care and concern for the well-being of others, a common character of Carson City.
Sheriff Furlong credits many positive influencing factors for a generally successful ending to 2024. Among them has been a tremendous cooperation by the community with law enforcement efforts, year-round healthy recreational activities, Carson City School District advances in student access to assistance and behavioral policies, and the commitment of law enforcement mental health assistance teams known as MOST. While we thank everyone for a great community spirit year, 2025 will surely bring on new challenges and circumstances that the Sheriff’s Office continually and diligently prepares for.
