Storm Lake Police, Fire Reports Show Shifts in Calls, Traffic Stops, Drug Investigations

Storm Lake's police and fire departments recorded steady overall activity in February 2026 while also posting several notable shifts from the same month a year earlier, according to activity reports released by both agencies.

The Storm Lake Police Department handled 2,342 service calls during the month, a figure that reflects the department's broader trend of managing high call volumes against a backdrop of declining serious crime. The February reports indicate shifts in traffic stops and drug investigations compared with February 2025, though the full breakdown of those categories by count and type was contained in the department's activity report documents.

The February figures arrive on the heels of a strong annual performance. According to a city press release posted February 5, 2025, Part I Uniform Crime Reporting Index crimes, which cover many of the most serious incident types, declined more than 4 percent from the previous year. Drug arrests fell to their lowest level since 2016, and the SLPD's clandestine lab team has not needed to deploy for seven straight years, a stretch that reflects sustained reductions in methamphetamine lab activity in the region.

Vehicle accidents also declined in 2024, with accident injuries reaching their lowest rate since 2020. Operation Clean Sweep, the city program that addresses nuisance property situations, saw a decrease in calls for the second consecutive year. Reported scam incidents dropped from 83 in 2023 to 74 in 2024, continuing a downward pattern the department has been tracking.

The SLPD has also continued expanding its public outreach programming, though specific event counts were not included in the released materials.

The public safety reports come as the City of Storm Lake released its full 2025 Annual Report, which covers completed projects, departmental achievements, and progress toward strategic goals set by the City Council. The report is available online at stormlake.org/847/Annual-Report-2025, and printed copies are on hand at City Hall.

Also moving through City Hall recently: the Storm Lake City Council unanimously approved a concept for a new Neighborhood Volunteer Program. The program, proposed by the City's Building and Codes office, would connect volunteers with residents who are elderly, have a disability, or face circumstances that make routine property maintenance such as mowing or snow removal difficult to complete. The initiative is designed as an alternative to citations or abatement proceedings against homeowners who are struggling to meet property regulations.