Jacksonville Police Annual Report: More Calls, Fewer Accidents, Major Seizures

The Jacksonville Police Department reported a year of higher demand for services alongside declines in serious traffic crashes and several categories of crime. Officers responded to more than 24,800 calls for service — about 2% more than the prior year and the most calls handled since 2017 — with October registering as the busiest month for dispatch activity.

Major or reportable accidents fell to 600, roughly 2% fewer than in 2024, and there were no traffic fatalities recorded during the year. December was the busiest month for crashes, with 70 incidents logged by the department. Overall reductions in collisions and serious traffic outcomes mark a notable shift for public safety priorities on Morgan County roads.

Crime figures in the annual report showed mixed results. The department handled no murder cases, recorded two robberies, and investigated 11 criminal sexual assaults. Index crimes — including assault, burglary, theft, and battery — declined by nearly 60 incidents to a total of 408. Drug-related crimes fell to 145, about 50 fewer than the previous year. At the same time, narcotics enforcement produced a substantial seizure of currency: drug raids resulted in more than $926,000 taken out of circulation.

The year included a personal loss for the department unrelated to duty when Officer Brian Baptist died while on vacation in September. The report lists this as a non-job-related death; the department and community continue to process that loss.

For local residents, the combination of heavier call volumes and fewer serious crashes has practical implications. Increased calls for service can signal growing community needs beyond violent crime, such as welfare checks, mental health crises, traffic complaints, and noncriminal assistance that draw patrol time and dispatch resources. At the same time, lower counts in index and drug charges may reflect effective enforcement strategies, changing criminal patterns, or variations in reporting and prosecution — factors that bear on policing priorities and budget decisions.

City leaders and residents will need to consider how to allocate resources as demand rises. Staffing levels, overtime costs, training in crisis response, and investments in prevention and social services all intersect with the trends documented in the report. Civic engagement will shape the response: residents who participate in budget hearings, neighborhood meetings, and community-police forums can influence whether the department emphasizes patrol capacity, community outreach, traffic safety programs, or continued narcotics enforcement.

This annual snapshot gives Morgan County a basis for planning public-safety policy in the year ahead. Watch for department briefings and municipal budget discussions to see how Jacksonville balances rising service calls, continued crime reductions, and the fiscal and operational needs that follow.