Cheyenne Police Department Releases 2024 Annual Report

Published on March 03, 2025

The Cheyenne Police Department is releasing its annual report for 2024, an overview of the department's activity over the last year.

Officers responded to 71,036 calls for service total. The number of calls follows a downward trend from 79,932 in 2022 to 75,965 in 2023. Today, the department is funded for 115 sworn officers. There are currently 111 CPD officers in the city.

“At the start of each year, we establish strategic goals to guide our operations,” said Chief Mark Francisco. “In 2024, this proactive approach led to a 16% reduction in overall crime. By focusing on traffic safety, reducing vehicle burglaries, and expanding our Crime Prevention Team, we were able to maximize our impact and enhance the safety of our community.”

Crime data shows decreases in most categories

In a six-year comparison, 2024 saw a sharp decline in crimes against property, from a high of 3,797 incidents in 2021 down to 2,877. Crimes against property include burglary, destruction of property, embezzlement, theft, extortion, and fraud. In a similar six-year comparison, crimes against people decreased from 1,069 in 2023 to 916 in 2024. The high remains in 2021 with a total of 1,091. Crimes against people include aggravated assault, homicide, human trafficking, and sex offenses.

Theft of motor vehicle parts decreased by 58% – this category includes catalytic converter theft from vehicles. Motor vehicle theft incidents decreased 33%, from 230 in 2023 to 155 in 2024. Shoplifting also decreased 4% in the last calendar year.

Violent crime rates showed slight decreases in simple assault and intimidation categories. The number of homicides remained the same – there were 3 in 2024; however, two were ruled as “justified” homicides by the Laramie County District Attorney.

There was an increase in drug/narcotic violations, from 771 in 2023 to 806 in 2024.

Crime Prevention Team increases staffing

In 2023, the Crime Prevention Team was created to enhance public safety in the community. This team of specialized officers works to identify the underlying causes of crime and collaborates closely with the public to develop solutions. In 2024, the team continued to use criminal intelligence, public education, and Crime Prevention by Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies to deter criminal activity. In September 2024, the team reached full staffing. It now consists of three full-time officers, a crime analyst, and a supervisor.

Use of force is rare in police interactions

The report shows that, of 71,036 calls for service in 2024, force was used by officers to gain compliance 0.51% of the time, or in 360 instances.

In 2023, the department announced it would be including two new civilian members on its Force Review Board, formed to evaluate use of force incidents by officers. For each incident reviewed by the board, a vote is cast by members to recommend what action should be taken as a result of a use of force incident. The CPD was the first agency in Wyoming to include citizens on a use of force review board.

Fewer crashes

In 2024, the CPD responded to 1,792 traffic crashes, marking a 5% decrease from the previous year. Notably, crashes related to speed and red-light violations dropped by 24%, exceeding our annual goal of a 10% reduction.

This success is driven by multiple high-visibility enforcement operations at known hot spots for crashes. Annually, the CPD also partners with law enforcement agencies across the state on high-visibility traffic safety campaigns (four Occupant Protection campaigns as well as six Impaired Driving campaigns.) As a result, 11,350 traffic stops were made in 2024, and 195 arrests were made for Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

Reduced drug distribution

While the number of drug/narcotic violations increased in 2024, the department's Community Action Team (CAT) reported a 6% decrease in drug distribution cases, and investigations related to overdose deaths also decreased by 6%.

The CAT includes five police detectives, who are also Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force officers. This group investigates cases that require specialized police work, including narcotics, prostitution, human trafficking, and gambling cases.

The CPD’s Property and Evidence section reported that drug paraphernalia accounted for 45% of the drug-related items collected by officers last year. Of the remaining items, marijuana and methamphetamine continued the trend of being the most common type of drugs seized at 23% and 17% respectively. There was a 38% decrease in seizure of fentanyl products from 2023 to 2024.

Community outreach

The report includes a “Beyond the Badge” section, highlighting community service efforts like the department’s Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event, Citizen’s Police Academy, and the holiday Shop with a Cop event. These initiatives aim to foster positive interactions between officers and the public in a more relaxed setting, allowing for genuine connections beyond law enforcement duties.

Hiring

In 2024, the department launched a promotional video series to attract new recruits and lateral transfer officers. Videos showcased the CPD’s strong relationship with the community, while also highlighting opportunities available within the department’s specialty units. The series successfully reached candidates across the country, encouraging more applicants to consider a career in Cheyenne. Funding for this project was provided through forfeiture funds.

The Recruiting section reported that 204 individuals applied for police officer positions, an increase from 186 applicants in 2023. After extensive testing and background investigations, 14 new police officers were on-boarded, two of whom were lateral transfers.

Other notable data from 2024

In 2024, the department’s Citizens on Patrol volunteer program contributed 5,048 hours to the department.

The Detective Bureau was assigned 338 cases last year. Felony cases are referred to this division when they have workable leads. Property crime detectives worked 243 felony cases while 95 felony cases were assigned to people crime detectives.

In October 2024, the City of Cheyenne received a $33,000 donation which was used to fund three new K9s for the Cheyenne Police Department. The donation came at a critical time as three of the unit’s current K9s are approaching retirement age.

Seventeen calls were made to the department's Bomb Squad and 54 calls were made to the small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Team for drone deployment.

“I am very proud of our team’s work over the past year,” said Chief Francisco. “It is our hope that through this report, you gain insight into the positive impact our officers have made, as well as our commitment to adapting to the changing needs of our community.”

For more information, you can view the full report below, or on our website, www.cheyennepd.org/2024annualreport.