Grand Island Crime Rate Stays Flat After 14% Drop in 2024

Grand Island, Neb. — The Grand Island Police Department has released results from its 2025 Crime Rate Initiative, highlighting year-over-year trends, targeted enforcement efforts and continued focus on community safety.

Overall crime incidents remained steady in 2025, with 3,668 reported cases compared to 3,664 in 2024, a 0.11% increase. While total incidents held relatively flat, key categories showed meaningful movement, reflecting focused efforts in prevention and enforcement.

Crimes against persons declined 4.43% in 2025, while crimes against property decreased 2.11%. Crimes against society increased 14.11%, rising from 659 to 752, and it’s largely attributed to targeted enforcement related to drug activity, public order violations and proactive policing strategies.

In addition to crime trends, the department saw a significant rise in calls for service and traffic-related activity. Calls for service increased 23.24% and overall traffic calls rose 56.86%, reflecting a renewed emphasis on traffic enforcement and roadway safety. Despite the increase in traffic activity, reported accidents declined 12.56% year over year.

The 2025 Crime Rate Initiative focused on:

-Targeted patrols in high-activity areas
-Increased traffic enforcement and visibility
-Collaboration with community partners and neighborhood groups
-Proactive investigations tied to repeat offenders and emerging trends
-Continued investment in data analysis to guide deployment and prevention
 

“Our goal is not only to respond to crime but to prevent it,” Grand Island Police Chief Kevin Denney said. “Our 2025 initiative reflects the work our officers are doing every day to be present in the community, address concerns early and focus resources where they make the greatest impact.”

The department emphasized that increases in enforcement activity, particularly related to traffic and quality-of-life issues, are intentional and designed to reduce long-term risk and improve public safety outcomes.

GIPD will continue using the Crime Rate Initiative framework in 2026, refining strategies based on data trends, officer feedback and community input to ensure Grand Island remains a safe and welcoming community for residents and visitors alike.

For more information, please contact Grand Island Communications Manager Spencer Schubert at [email protected].

Kevin Denney Video Interview #1
Kevin Denney Video Interview #2