Looking Beyond the Headlines: What Parsons' 2025 Crime Numbers Really Tell Us
By Chief Robert Spinks, Parsons Police Department

The Parsons Police Department has released its 2025 Annual Report, and I am pleased to report that our community experienced a meaningful reduction in reported crime during 2025. While no police chief is ever satisfied until every resident is safe, these numbers represent progress that belongs to our entire community-not just the Police Department.

According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's 2025 Crime Index, Parsons recorded 362 total FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Index offenses in 2025. That includes 96 violent crimes and 266 property crimes, representing an overall decline from 2024. 899 arrests were made last year, unfortunately we had a fair share of repeat offenders.

The reduction in crime is encouraging, but it is also important to understand what these numbers actually mean-and just as importantly, what they do not mean. What they mean is that violent crime in our town is driven by domestic violence and property crime is driven by theft. Both have a connection to drug use and abuse. There is not street crime, home invasions nor assaults by strangers.

Crime Prevention Is a Community Responsibility
The men and women of the Parsons Police Department work hard every day to prevent crime, investigate offenses, and hold offenders accountable. But policing alone has never been the sole answer to crime.

Communities become safer when residents:

• Report suspicious activity promptly.
• Lock vehicles and secure homes.
• Watch out for neighbors.
• Support youth and families.
• Volunteer in community organizations.
• Cooperate with investigations.
• Refuse to tolerate criminal behavior.

Our long-standing message remains true:

See It! Hear It! Report It!

Every phone call, every witness statement, every neighborhood conversation helps build a safer Parsons. Crime prevention is not simply a police function-it is a community partnership.

Actual Crime Counts Tell the Story
One of the questions I receive every year concerns crime rankings and crime rates.

Many websites publish "per capita crime rates" that divide crime by population and then compare communities of dramatically different sizes. While those calculations may have value when comparing large metropolitan areas, they become increasingly unreliable when applied to smaller communities.

For communities with populations around 10,000 residents or less, a relatively small change in the number of reported crimes-or even a slight change in population estimates-can create dramatic swings in the calculated crime rate. Those swings often exaggerate changes that are not occurring in reality.

For example, if a community's population estimate changes by only a few hundred residents while reported crimes remain nearly identical, its "crime rate" can appear to increase or decrease significantly even though the actual public safety environment has changed very little.

That is why I have consistently encouraged residents to focus first on the actual number of reported crimes rather than relying solely on per-capita rankings.

Actual reported offenses are objective. They represent crimes investigated and submitted through the Kansas Incident-Based Reporting System to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). They are the most direct measure of what law enforcement agencies are actually responding to in their communities.

How Parsons Compares
The accompanying 2025 graphic illustrates how Parsons compares with other Kansas cities using actual reported UCR Index offenses.

Among Kansas law enforcement agencies reporting crime data in 2025:

• Parsons ranked 22nd in total reported UCR Index crimes.
• Parsons ranked 18th in violent crime.
• Parsons ranked 22nd in property crime.

Those rankings simply reflect the number of reported offenses submitted by Kansas law enforcement agencies. They provide a more straightforward comparison than percentage-based calculations that can fluctuate widely in smaller communities.

Every Crime Prevented Matters
The decrease in crime did not happen because of one initiative or one police operation.

It reflects countless contributions from across Parsons:

• Citizens who reported suspicious behavior.
• Neighborhoods looking out for one another.
• Businesses investing in security.
• School officials working with students and families.
• Community organizations supporting at-risk youth.
• Prosecutors, judges, probation officers, and victim advocates.
• Dedicated police officers and civilian employees serving every day.
• Public safety is strongest when everyone accepts some responsibility for the well-being of our community.

We Will Not Become Complacent
While we celebrate progress, we recognize that 362 victims are still too many. Every burglary affects someone's sense of security. Every theft impacts a family's finances. Every violent crime changes lives forever.

The goal is never simply improving rankings. The goal is reducing victimization. The Parsons Police Department will continue emphasizing proactive patrol, criminal investigations, community engagement, traffic safety, technology, officer training, and partnerships with residents to continue moving in the right direction.

Thank You, Parsons
I want to sincerely thank our residents for the trust you place in the Parsons Police Department. Your willingness to report crime, provide information, participate in community programs, and work alongside our officers makes a measurable difference.

Crime prevention truly is a team effort. Together, we will continue building a community where families feel safe, businesses can thrive, and neighbors look after one another. Because the safest communities aren't created by police departments alone-they are built by citizens and police working together.

Look for the Good in Parsons: A Blueprint for Safer Communities
Series Conclusion: A Unified Strategy for Parsons
By Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks, MA, MS

Over the course of this series, we have explored an important truth about modern policing: public safety is about far more than responding to crime. It is about building the kind of community where crime is less likely to occur in the first place.

That is the heart of "Look for the Good in Parsons."

It is more than a public awareness campaign. It is a philosophy of leadership, community partnership, and shared responsibility. It recognizes that the safest communities are not simply those with effective police departments, but those where citizens, businesses, schools, civic organizations, and local government work together to build a community people are proud to call home.

Throughout this series, we have discussed seven principles that form the foundation of that philosophy:

• Vision reminds us that successful communities anticipate challenges instead of merely reacting to them.
• People-Focused Policing emphasizes that every interaction is an opportunity to build trust and strengthen relationships.
• Community Integrity demonstrates that transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership are the infrastructure upon which public confidence is built.
• Community Resilience shows us that connected neighborhoods recover more quickly from adversity and are better equipped to prevent crime.
• Sense of Community reinforces that people who know, support, and care for one another naturally create safer neighborhoods.
• Economic Opportunity reminds us that prosperity and public safety go hand in hand.
• Citizen Engagement recognizes that every resident has a role in helping shape the future of Parsons.

Together, these principles represent a unified strategy for crime prevention-one that aligns with the evolving philosophies promoted by organizations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police2Peace, Future Policing Institute, and FBI-LEEDA. These organizations increasingly recognize that the future of policing depends not only on enforcement, but also on leadership, collaboration, innovation, and community partnerships.

Perhaps nowhere is that philosophy more evident than in the relationship between economic development and public safety.

For many years, economic development and policing were viewed as separate responsibilities. Today, we know they are closely connected.

Communities that attract new employers, encourage entrepreneurship, revitalize commercial districts, and invest in infrastructure create opportunities that reduce many of the conditions associated with crime. Businesses bring jobs. Jobs provide financial stability. Stable employment strengthens families. Strong families contribute to stable neighborhoods. Stable neighborhoods foster pride, investment, and engagement.

Growth creates momentum.

New businesses generate tax revenue that allows cities to improve streets, utilities, parks, public safety, and other essential services. Those improvements make communities more attractive to employers, developers, and families looking for a place to invest their future. As housing expands, neighborhoods grow stronger. As quality of life improves, communities become destinations rather than places people leave behind.

This is not simply an economic cycle-it is a public safety strategy.

Communities experiencing healthy, responsible growth often benefit from increased natural surveillance, improved property maintenance, stronger civic engagement, and greater opportunities for young people. Each of those factors contributes to reducing crime opportunities while increasing community resilience.

Simply put, growth supports public safety, and public safety encourages growth.

That does not mean growth comes without thoughtful planning. Responsible development requires careful consideration of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, public safety resources, and community priorities. But communities that refuse to pursue opportunity risk stagnation, declining investment, and fewer resources to support the very services residents expect and deserve.

As Police Chief, my responsibility extends beyond responding to emergencies. It includes helping create the conditions where people feel safe enough to raise families, start businesses, invest in neighborhoods, and become active participants in community life. Public safety should never be viewed as a barrier to progress-it should be a catalyst for it.

That is why I believe "Look for the Good in Parsons" is ultimately about more than policing. It is about believing in our community. It is about recognizing the strengths that already exist while embracing the opportunities that lie ahead. It is about choosing optimism over cynicism, collaboration over division, and long-term solutions over short-term reactions.

Every citizen has a role to play. Every business contributes to our community's success. Every neighborhood matters. Every act of kindness, volunteerism, mentorship, investment, and civic engagement strengthens the foundation upon which a safer Parsons is built.

The future of Parsons will not be determined by one organization or one elected body. It will be shaped by thousands of individual decisions made every day by people who choose to invest in this community and in one another.

When we support local businesses, mentor young people, volunteer in our neighborhoods, participate in civic life, report suspicious activity, welcome responsible investment, and work together to solve problems, we are doing far more than improving public safety-we are strengthening the future of Parsons itself.

I have had the privilege of serving in law enforcement for many years and in several communities. One lesson has remained constant throughout my career: the strongest communities are not those without challenges. They are the ones that face those challenges together, with confidence, integrity, and a shared commitment to making tomorrow better than today.

That is the Parsons I see.

That is the Parsons I believe in.

And that is why I continue to ask our community to look for the good in Parsons.

Because when we recognize our strengths, invest in our future, support responsible growth, and work together with a shared purpose, we accomplish something greater than reducing crime.

We build a community where families choose to stay, businesses choose to invest, young people choose to build their futures, and neighbors choose to look out for one another.

A safer Parsons.
A stronger Parsons.
A growing Parsons.

And together, that is exactly the future we can create.

Look for the Good in Parsons: A Blueprint for Safer Communities

PART 7: Citizen Involvement - Co-Producing Public Safety

By Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks

"If you see something, say something-because you are part of the solution."

One of the greatest misconceptions about public safety is the belief that crime prevention belongs solely to government or law enforcement. While police officers play an important role in protecting communities, the reality is that the most powerful force in crime prevention has always been an engaged and involved community.

Safe communities are not created by police departments alone. They are built when citizens, businesses, schools, churches, civic organizations, and local government work together toward a shared goal of keeping neighborhoods safe, connected, and resilient.

That philosophy is at the heart of our "Look for the Good in Parsons" initiative.

Modern policing leaders increasingly recognize that the future of effective policing depends on partnership and collaboration rather than simply enforcement alone. Organizations such as Police2Peace, Future Policing Institute, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and FBI-LEEDA continue to promote community-centered policing models that encourage citizens to become active participants in public safety.

The Police2Peace philosophy describes this as the "co-production" of public safety, where communities are not passive recipients of police services, but active stakeholders in creating safer neighborhoods and improving quality of life.

That involvement can take many forms.

Sometimes it means reporting suspicious activity or sharing information with law enforcement before problems escalate. Sometimes it means participating in community programs, volunteering at local events, mentoring young people, serving on advisory groups, or supporting neighborhood initiatives designed to improve communication and strengthen relationships.

Each of those actions contributes to a stronger and safer community.

The Future Policing Institute further emphasizes the importance of collaborative governance, where citizens have a voice in shaping public safety priorities and helping guide how communities are policed. This approach recognizes that residents often understand the unique needs, concerns, and strengths of their neighborhoods better than anyone else.

For Parsons, this means public safety is truly a shared responsibility.

"See It, Hear It, Report It" is more than just a slogan-it is a practical crime prevention strategy. Timely information from citizens often helps officers identify suspicious behavior early, prevent crimes from occurring, locate offenders, or intervene before situations become dangerous.

In many cases, crimes are solved-or prevented altogether-because someone noticed something unusual and chose to speak up.

Every citizen becomes part of the safety network.

Communities where people remain engaged and connected naturally create fewer opportunities for criminal behavior. More eyes, more awareness, and stronger communication help discourage crime and increase accountability throughout neighborhoods.

Connected communities also create stronger support systems during times of crisis. Whether responding to severe weather, public safety concerns, family emergencies, or neighborhood problems, involved citizens help communities recover more quickly and remain resilient during difficult situations.

Citizen involvement also strengthens trust between law enforcement and the community. When officers and residents regularly communicate and work together, relationships improve and barriers begin to disappear. That trust creates stronger cooperation, better information-sharing, and more effective long-term problem-solving.

The Parsons Police Department remains committed to building those relationships through visibility, outreach, communication, and ongoing engagement throughout the community. Public safety works best when citizens know their officers, officers know their neighborhoods, and everyone understands they share a common investment in the future of Parsons.

"Look for the Good in Parsons" is ultimately about recognizing that the strength of our community comes from the people who live here.

It is about encouraging pride in our neighborhoods, involvement in our schools and organizations, and active participation in improving the quality of life throughout our city. It is about creating a culture where people feel connected, responsible, and willing to work together to address challenges before they grow into larger problems.

Crime prevention is strongest when communities refuse to become disconnected or indifferent.

• When citizens stay engaged, neighborhoods become stronger.
• When neighborhoods become stronger, crime opportunities decrease.
• And when communities work together, public safety improves for everyone.

Because the future of Parsons will not be built by government alone-it will be built by citizens willing to be part of the solution.

Look for the Good in Parsons: A Blueprint for Safer Communities

PART 6: Economic Development - The Overlooked Crime Prevention Tool

By Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks

"A thriving Parsons is a safer Parsons."

When people think about crime prevention, they often think about patrol cars, arrests, investigations, and emergency response. While those functions remain important, modern policing increasingly recognizes that some of the most effective crime prevention strategies begin long before law enforcement intervention is needed.

One of those strategies is economic development.

Strong local economies and safe communities are deeply connected. In fact, economic vitality is one of the strongest long-term predictors of public safety and neighborhood stability. Communities with growing businesses, stable employment opportunities, active downtown districts, and well-maintained properties tend to experience lower crime rates and stronger community engagement.

Conversely, areas impacted by blight, chronic unemployment, deteriorating infrastructure, and lack of opportunity often face greater public safety challenges. When neighborhoods struggle economically for extended periods of time, the effects are felt far beyond the financial impact alone. Disinvestment can contribute to social instability, reduced neighborhood pride, weakened community engagement, and increased opportunities for criminal activity.

That is why forward-thinking policing agencies today increasingly view economic development as part of a broader public safety strategy.

Organizations such as International Association of Chiefs of Police, Future Policing Institute, Police2Peace, and FBI-LEEDA continue to emphasize collaborative community partnerships and long-term problem-solving approaches that address the root causes of crime rather than simply responding to its symptoms.

Modern policing doctrine increasingly recognizes that public safety and economic health are inseparable.

Business growth itself contributes to crime prevention in several important ways. Active businesses increase natural surveillance by placing more employees, customers, and visitors in commercial areas throughout the day and evening hours. Vibrant downtown districts create activity, visibility, and positive community engagement that discourage criminal behavior and disorder.

Investment in neighborhoods and commercial areas also improves environmental design. Well-maintained properties, adequate lighting, clean public spaces, and attractive business corridors all contribute to stronger perceptions of safety and community pride. These concepts are often reinforced through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, which focus on designing environments that naturally reduce opportunities for crime.

Economic opportunity also matters on a personal level.

Stable employment, workforce development, and career opportunities provide individuals and families with pathways toward long-term stability and success. Communities that create opportunities for young people and working families help reduce some of the conditions that can contribute to crime, addiction, and hopelessness.

Opportunity reduces crime drivers.

That is why public safety cannot operate in isolation from broader community development efforts. In Parsons, crime prevention is strengthened when local government, businesses, schools, civic organizations, and residents work together toward a shared vision for community growth and revitalization.

For the Parsons Police Department, that means supporting efforts that strengthen the overall health of our community. It means partnering with local businesses, supporting downtown revitalization efforts, encouraging neighborhood investment, and participating in initiatives that improve community livability and quality of life.

Public safety officers regularly see firsthand how positive environments influence behavior. Communities where residents take pride in their neighborhoods, businesses remain engaged, and citizens feel hopeful about the future tend to experience stronger social cohesion and lower levels of disorder.

This is one of the core ideas behind our "Look for the Good in Parsons" initiative.

Looking for the good means recognizing the potential already present throughout our city. It means supporting local businesses, investing in neighborhoods, encouraging growth, and creating an environment where people want to live, work, raise families, and remain engaged in their community.

Economic development is not simply about buildings, infrastructure, or commerce. It is about strengthening the overall stability and resilience of a community.

• Safe communities attract investment.
• Investment strengthens neighborhoods.
• Strong neighborhoods discourage crime.

Those connections matter.

The future of public safety in Parsons depends not only on enforcement strategies, but also on our collective ability to create opportunity, strengthen community pride, and support long-term growth throughout the city.

Because when Parsons thrives economically, Parsons grows safer as well.

Look for the Good in Parsons: A Blueprint for Safer Communities
PART 3: Community Integrity - Trust as Infrastructure
By Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks

Every strong community depends on infrastructure. Roads connect neighborhoods, utilities power homes, and communication systems keep people informed during emergencies. Deep Fission and the potential it may bring to power development and jobs at the Great Plains Industrial Park may be part of a strong future for Parsons. But one of the most important forms of infrastructure in public safety is something less visible-trust.

Without trust, policing becomes reactive and difficult. With trust, policing becomes collaborative and preventive. That is why integrity is not just a slogan in modern policing-it is operational currency.

Every interaction between a police officer and a citizen either strengthens or weakens public confidence. Trust is built through professionalism, fairness, accountability, and consistency over time. It cannot be demanded; it must be earned.

That principle is central to our "Look for the Good in Parsons" initiative.

Professional organizations such as Police2Peace, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and FBI-LEEDA continue to emphasize that ethical leadership, transparency, and accountability are essential to effective public safety.

The Police2Peace philosophy encourages officers to act in good faith, prioritize communication, and use professionalism and restraint whenever possible. Likewise, the International Association of Chiefs of Police promotes strong partnerships between police, schools, businesses, local government, and community organizations to strengthen legitimacy throughout the justice system.

Why does this matter?

Because crime prevention depends heavily on public cooperation. Communities that trust their police are more likely to report suspicious activity, provide information, cooperate during investigations, and work alongside officers to solve problems before they escalate.

When legitimacy increases, resistance decreases.

For the Parsons Police Department, integrity means consistency in both our actions and our message. It means treating people fairly, being transparent, and remaining accountable to the community we serve. It also means recognizing that every contact matters-from major incidents to simple everyday conversations.

Fairness and procedural justice remain critical components of modern policing. Research consistently shows that people are more likely to comply with the law and cooperate with police when they believe they have been treated with dignity and respect, even during difficult situations.

Trust is not built only during emergencies. It is built daily through visibility, communication, and positive engagement throughout the community. That is why our department continues to prioritize relationships, neighborhood involvement, and open communication as part of our overall crime prevention strategy.

"Look for the Good in Parsons" is ultimately about strengthening the connections that make communities safer. Public safety works best when citizens and police view one another as partners with a shared investment in the future of our city.

Strong communities are not built by enforcement alone. They are built through trust, accountability, and mutual respect.

And when we look for the good in Parsons, we continue building the kind of trust that helps keep our community safe, connected, and strong.

Look for the Good in Parsons: A Blueprint for Safer Communities

PART 4: Community Resilience - Strength That Prevents Crime

By Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks

"Safe communities aren't built overnight-they're built together."

That statement reflects an important truth about public safety. Strong communities do not become resilient by accident. They become resilient when people work together, support one another during difficult times, and remain committed to improving the place they call home.

Resilient communities are often the safest communities because they are better equipped to prevent problems before they grow into larger crises.

In policing, resilience means far more than simply responding to emergencies. It means creating neighborhoods and relationships strong enough to withstand challenges, recover from adversity, and continue moving forward together. Whether facing crime, economic hardship, addiction issues, family crises, or natural disasters, resilient communities adapt and respond because people remain connected and engaged.

That philosophy is central to our "Look for the Good in Parsons" initiative.

Modern policing leaders increasingly recognize that enforcement alone cannot solve every public safety issue. Organizations such as Future Policing Institute, Police2Peace, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and FBI-LEEDA continue to emphasize collaboration, systems thinking, and long-term community engagement as critical components of effective policing.

The Future Policing Institute stresses that modern law enforcement agencies must focus not only on the symptoms of crime, but also on the underlying conditions that contribute to it. That requires partnerships, communication, and a broader understanding of how community health, education, housing, mental health services, and economic opportunity all influence public safety.

Similarly, the Police2Peace philosophy promotes collaborative problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and long-term cultural change within policing agencies. It reinforces the idea that public safety works best when communities and police departments operate as partners rather than separate entities.

In Parsons, resilience begins with neighborhood cohesion.

Communities where neighbors know one another, communicate regularly, and remain engaged are naturally more resistant to crime and disorder. Criminal activity often thrives in places where isolation, disconnection, and lack of communication exist. Conversely, connected neighborhoods create informal support systems that help identify concerns early and discourage criminal behavior before it escalates.

Resilience also depends on strong cross-sector partnerships.

Public safety is not the sole responsibility of law enforcement. Schools, healthcare providers, social services, churches, businesses, civic groups, and local government all play important roles in strengthening the overall health of a community. When those partnerships work together effectively, communities become better equipped to address challenges involving youth violence, addiction, homelessness, domestic violence, mental health crises, and other complex issues.

One of the most important aspects of resilience is community ownership of safety.

The safest communities are those where citizens recognize they are active participants in crime prevention rather than passive observers. When residents report suspicious activity, participate in neighborhood events, support youth programs, and engage in positive community dialogue, they help create an environment where crime has fewer opportunities to take hold.

Strong communities disrupt crime cycles before they start.

That is why relationship-building, communication, and collaboration remain key priorities for the Parsons Police Department. Public safety is strongest when trust exists between citizens and law enforcement, and when people believe they share a common investment in the future of their community.

"Look for the Good in Parsons" is ultimately about recognizing the strengths that already exist within our city and continuing to build upon them. It is about choosing unity over division, cooperation over isolation, and proactive engagement over reactive response.

Resilience is not built during moments of comfort-it is built through shared effort, shared responsibility, and shared commitment during challenging times.

And when communities remain connected, engaged, and resilient, they create something powerful: a safer future for everyone.