Sioux Falls Celebrates A Welcome Drop In Crime Rates

Sioux Falls Celebrates Crime Reduction

Sioux Falls is celebrating a major public safety milestone. City leaders announced this week that violent crime in Sioux Falls has reached a five-year low per capita, while property crime per capita dropped 26 percent from 2024 to 2025.

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The encouraging numbers were shared during a public safety press conference led by Police Chief Jon Thum. He was joined by Mayor Paul TenHaken, Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead, Minnehaha County Chief Deputy Jeff Gromer, Minnehaha County States Attorney Daniel Haggar, and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley.

Collaboration for Safety: A Team Effort

The twice-yearly event provides updates on crime trends and highlights partnerships between city, county, and state law enforcement agencies.

Over the past eight years, Sioux Falls has grown rapidly, adding an estimated 37,500 residents. With that growth came more calls for service -- 130,532 in 2025 alone -- and an overall increase in total reported crimes. However, crime per 1,000 residents has remained steady over the past decade, even as the city expanded.

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Major Crime Categories on the Decline

In 2025, nearly every major crime category saw a decrease. That includes homicides, aggravated assaults, domestic assaults, robberies, rapes, burglaries, larcenies, and vandalism. Stolen vehicles showed the most dramatic improvement, with 905 reported in 2025 — down 34 percent from the previous year and 43 percent from a 2023 peak.

Police credit the progress to proactive enforcement, advanced technology, targeted public awareness campaigns and strong collaboration among agencies. City leaders say while crime trends may fluctuate, continued teamwork and community involvement will remain key to keeping Sioux Falls safe and thriving.