La Porte County Sheriff's Office releases annual report
LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. -- On Thursday, the La Porte County Sheriff's Office released the 63-page 2023 Annual Report which details the office's activity all of last year.
The report contains crime related and statistical information in categories such as calls for service, offenses, arrests, crashes, citations, Warrants and Civil Divisions.
“This year’s report reveals an increase in calls for service, but a decrease in violent crimes and major cases investigated," La Porte County Sheriff Ron Heeg. “Throughout the report, there are reductions and increases in certain statistical areas."
A total of 28,199 calls for service were answered by LCSO deputies last year compared to 24,724 answered in 2022, a roughly 14 percent increase.
A total of 513 major cases were investigated in 2023 as compared to 560 being investigated in 2022, a roughly eight percent decrease.
There was a total of 3,800 drivers pulled over for speeding, with an additional 991 pulled over for going over the posted speed limit of 55 mph.
There was a total of 9,718 traffic citations given out in 2023, with just 2,561 being tickets and 7,157 being warning tickets.
“We are very pleased by the motivated actions of deputies aggressively enforcing traffic laws," Heeg said. "With that, deputies are utilizing discretion to issue warnings, and citations when necessary to correct driving behaviors.”
The three townships that recorded the most traffic stops were Kankakee with 2,866, Springfield with 1,329, and Center with 1,187.
According to the report, a total of 1,082 crashes were investigated in 2023, a four percent decrease from the year before. There was also 256 crashes involving deer.
Crashes caused the death of 13 people in 2023, an 18 percent increase, and alcohol related fatality crashes increased from one to five.
“We are extremely concerned about the increase in the number of alcohol related fatality crashes and the number of OWI arrests," said Heeg. "Because of that, high-visibility aggressive traffic enforcement will continue and remain a priority to increase the safety of motorists traveling on roadways across La Porte County.”
The report shows that 4,428 people were booked in the La Porte County Jail last year, a 10 percent increase from the 4,010 people booked in 2022.
“Citizens are encouraged to review the reports which provide much more detailed information," Heeg said. "The reports provide citizens with an opportunity to educate themselves as to how their tax dollars are utilized. Both reports highlight the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office. The agency remains focused on improving public safety for all and keeping La Porte County a wonderful place to reside, work and visit.”