The Parsons Police Department released its 2024 annual report, which police say details improvements in public safety, strategic advancements and department operations.
Police Chief Robert Spinks shared highlights of the report with Parsons city commissioners on Thursday.
Spinks told commissioners that reported crime dropped 14.57% in 2024 and property crime decreased by 22.81%. There were 20 more felony assaults, which led to a 20% increase in crime. Most of that is related to domestic violence crimes, he said, and can be attributed to improved reporting and intervention efforts.
Police made 882 arrests in 2024, including 142 felony arrests. And 53% of all arrests involved those who were arrested more than once in 2024.
Domestic violence continues to be a driver for a significant part of the city’s crime problem. Reducing domestic violence would cause a dramatic drop in crime, he said.
The department had 45 use of force incidents last year. Given the workload of Parsons police, that means that suspects have a 5% chance of force being used to make an arrest. Of the 45, 67% of them involved white suspects and 27% were black, Spinks said.
He said retention and recruiting remain challenges for the department. It’s costly to replace staff and time consuming. Looking at total compensation across the
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board will help and he wants to do that with City Manager Jeff Cantrell and commissioners.
The report also includes a crime map showing where most crimes are happening. Walmart remains a big driver of that, as does Mendota Creek.
He noted that the top 50 misdemeanor and felony arrests are similar names to those arrested in past years.
The top 10 are responsible for 105 of the 882 arrests in 2024, making up 12% of total arrests. He said one adult had been arrested 19 times in 2024, and 35% of felony offenders are repeat offenders.
While Parsons ranks high in Kansas on a per capita rate for crime, Spinks told commissioners that statistic is not a reliable indicator of the true crime rate. Again, domestic violence is the primary driver of violent crime reports in Parsons. People have a mental picture of armed robberies, purse snatchings and people held at gunpoint when they see violent crime stats.
“In our case, we have violence going on behind closed doors. Not a pretty picture,” Spinks told commissioners.
He said that other smaller communities, including Coffeyville, Concordia and Anthony, have stats showing large numbers of violent crime per capita. That does not make them a violent crime mecca.
“That would be an inappropriate interpretation,” he said.
Parsons is ranked 16th on actual reported violent crime, which Spinks said is higher than he wants. But if domestic violence can be reduced, Parsons will fall off that list.
The police department release on the annual report credited the Domestic Violence Unit for making inroads in the community and that unit is part of the department’s overall outreach and officer development initiatives.
“The numbers tell a story of teamwork and trust between our department and the community,” Spinks said in the release. “We’ve embraced innovation and built stronger relationships with the people we serve, and the results are clear — we’re making Parsons safer, smarter and stronger.”
Lt. Sherri McGuire, who heads the DVU, said in the release that the unit is building trust with victims who formerly suffered in silence.
“We’ve worked hard to ensure survivors know they’re not alone, and that help is real and accessible. That trust is leading to more reporting and more lives being protected. The increase in reported violent crimes is therefore seen as a positive step in outreach, accuracy in reporting and victim advocacy, not a reflection of increased community danger.”
At the same time, the department celebrates a sharp decline in property crime, crediting it to targeted patrol strategies, technological enhancements and strong partnerships with residents and local businesses, the release said.
The report shows a comprehensive review of the department’s continued growth and modernization. Highlights include: — Ongoing investments in officer training and education — Deployment of advanced technology and crime analysis tools — Expansion of the vehicle fleet and equipment upgrades — Deepening of community engagement initiatives — Transparency in budgeting, staffing, and performance goals “These improvements reflect the future of policing in Parsons,” said Spinks. “From smarter tools to stronger relationships, we are redefining what it means to serve this community, not just with enforcement, but with compassion and commitment.”
This report will be available for download on the Parsons Police Department’s website at www.parsonspdks.gov.
