CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne’s police officers responded to 71,036 calls for service in 2024, down from 75,965 in 2023 and 79,932 in 2022, according to the department’s latest annual report.
On Monday, the Cheyenne Police Department released its 2024 report, providing a comprehensive overview and breakdown of its activities last year.
“At the start of each year, we establish strategic goals to guide our operations,” Chief Mark Francisco said. “In 2024, this proactive approach led to a 16% reduction in overall crime. By focusing on traffic safety, reducing vehicle burglaries, and expanding our Crime Prevention Team, we were able to maximize our impact and enhance the safety of our community.”
Today, the department is funded for 115 sworn officers. There’s currently 111 serving the city.
Overall Crime Reduction
The department reported a 16% reduction in overall crime in 2024 compared to the previous year.
In a six-year comparison, 2024 saw a sharp decline in crimes against property, from a high of 3,797 incidents in 2021 down to 2,877. Crimes against property include burglary, destruction of property, embezzlement, theft, extortion and fraud.
The department also reported a decrease in crimes against people, from 1,069 in 2023 to 916 in 2024. Crimes against people include aggravated assault, homicide, human trafficking and sex offenses. While the number of homicides remained the same at three in both 2023 and 2024, two of the 2024 homicides were ruled as “justified” by the Laramie County District Attorney.
Drug/Narcotic Violations
Despite an overall decrease in crime, drug/narcotic violations saw an increase, rising from 771 in 2023 to 806 in 2024. This increase can be attributed to several factors, including the ongoing opioid epidemic and the increased prevalence of synthetic drugs such as fentanyl, the department said. Officers are working to combat drug-related crime through investigations, community education and collaboration with local, state and federal partners.
The Community Action Team reported a 6% decrease in drug distribution cases and a 6% decrease in investigations related to overdose deaths. The CAT comprises five police detectives who are also Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force officers. This unit investigates cases that require specialized police work, including narcotics, prostitution, human trafficking and gambling cases.
The Property and Evidence section reported that drug paraphernalia accounted for 45% of the drug-related items collected by officers last year. Of the remaining items, marijuana and methamphetamine continued the trend of being the most common type of drugs seized at 23% and 17%, respectively. There was a 38% decrease in the seizure of fentanyl products from 2023 to 2024.
Use of Force
The report shows that force was used by officers to gain compliance in 0.51% of calls for service, or in 360 instances. The Force Review Board, which includes civilian members, evaluates use-of-force incidents by officers. For each incident reviewed by the board, a vote is cast by members to recommend what action should be taken as a result of a use-of-force incident. The CPD was the first agency in Wyoming to include citizens on a use-of-force review board, the department noted.
All officers receive comprehensive training on use of force, de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention. The department also provides ongoing training to ensure that officers are equipped to handle situations effectively and minimize the need for force.
Traffic Crashes
The department responded to 1,792 traffic crashes in 2024, marking a 5% decrease from the previous year. Crashes related to speed and red light violations dropped by 24%, exceeding the department’s goal of a 10% reduction. This success is attributed to multiple high-visibility enforcement operations at known hot spots for crashes.
The department also partners with law enforcement agencies across the state on high-visibility traffic safety campaigns. In 2024, the department participated in four Occupant Protection campaigns and six Impaired Driving campaigns. These campaigns, funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aim to educate the public about traffic safety and deter dangerous driving behaviors.
As a result of these efforts, 11,350 traffic stops were made in 2024 and 195 arrests were made for driving under the influence.
Community Outreach
The report also highlights the department’s community service efforts, including the Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event, the Citizen’s Police Academy and the holiday Shop with a Cop event. These initiatives aim to foster positive interactions between officers and the public in a more relaxed setting, allowing for genuine connections beyond law enforcement duties.
The department also participates in various community events, such as National Night Out, Coffee with a Cop and school presentations.
Additional Highlights
- The Crime Prevention Team increased staffing to three full-time officers, a crime analyst and a supervisor.
- The department launched a promotional video series to attract new recruits and lateral transfer officers.
- In 2024, the department’s Citizens on Patrol volunteer program contributed 5,048 hours to the department.
- The Detective Bureau was assigned 338 cases last year, with property crime detectives working 243 felony cases and people crime detectives working 95 felony cases.
- A $33,000 donation funded three new K-9s for the department.
- Seventeen calls were made to the Bomb Squad and 54 calls were made for drone deployment.
The report is attached below:
NOTE: AI tools assisted in the publication of this report.
