Jasper police report shows high call volume and recoveries

At a Board of Public Works & Safety meeting today, Jasper Police Chief Chad Dick outlined December 2025 activity that underscores pressures on local public safety resources and the department's recent operational priorities. The department responded to roughly 1,046 calls for service in December, including 329 traffic contacts and 57 crashes. Officers made 44 arrests and handled 22 domestic-violence calls that resulted in six arrests.

Detectives executed search warrants and pursued both child-crime and general-crime investigations. A noteworthy outcome was the conclusion of an 11-day investigation into a runaway juvenile that ended with the youth located in New York after coordinated multiagency work. That case highlights the department's cross-jurisdictional coordination and the time and investigative resources such incidents require.

Chief Dick also emphasized retail-theft enforcement that led to the recovery of roughly $20,000 in stolen items. While recoveries provide tangible relief to affected businesses, the scale of recovered goods points to ongoing pressure from property-crime trends that local merchants and law enforcement must manage together.

The department also marked internal personnel changes, with new officers sworn in during December. Staffing additions arrive amid continued operational demand and precede plans to modernize the patrol fleet: the department intends to solicit sealed bids for new pursuit SUVs. That procurement step signals an upcoming budget and contract process that will affect county spending, vehicle maintenance planning, and patrol capabilities.

For Jasper and wider Dubois County, the December report carries immediate community implications. High numbers of traffic contacts and crashes signal persistent road-safety challenges that can influence enforcement priorities and pedestrian safety initiatives. Domestic-violence interventions and the successful resolution of complex juvenile cases reveal both the human cost of crime and the importance of rapid, coordinated responses among law enforcement, social services, and victims' advocates. The retail-theft recoveries matter to downtown merchants and strip-center businesses already coping with tight margins.

Transparency in the sealed-bid process and clarity about how new fleet purchases align with long-term budget planning will be priorities for residents and elected officials watching public spending. Similarly, sustaining detective capacity for labor-intensive investigations requires ongoing attention to staffing and interagency partnerships.

The takeaway? Keep attending public meetings and follow procurement notices so you know how tax dollars are being spent. Support local businesses by reporting suspicious activity and consider joining neighborhood watch efforts to reduce petty theft. Our two cents? Civic engagement and steady oversight of spending and policing practices are the best ways for Dubois County residents to ensure public safety investments match community needs.