Billings Annual Police Report

Billings annual police report released on Tuesday indicates fewer DUI crashes, fewer downtown calls, along with more violent assaults in 2016.  Police Chief Rich St. John presented the compiled data in a press conference at City Hall.  The Billings Gazette reports the city is now at full force with 148 police officers sworn, and there was a reduction in total calls for service from the previous year.

The Chief said the extra officers have made a significant impact on their ability to engage in proactive policing.  There were 84,820 calls for service in 2016, down from over 87,000 in 2015.  St. John highlighted the downtown area for having the sharpest decline in calls for police action.  It was the pilot site for the Motivated Addiction Alternative Program, which assigned officers and a social worker to work with repeat alcohol offenders.