The Galesburg Police Department released their annual report from 2020 on Thursday which highlights some changes and challenges in the past year.
Arrests and police calls were down in most categories from 2019, particularly crimes against property.
Arrests for crimes against persons were virtually flat with the prior year.
The largest increases were seen with a 50 increase in aggravated assault charges, and a more than doubling of motor vehicle thefts.
There were also far fewer traffic accidents as shelter-in-place orders kept cars off the road. The decrease in traffic accidents was 30 percent.
Galesburg Police Chief Russ Idle also says starting in 2019 and throughout 2020 the Department has instituted policies to improve its relationship with the community and increase transparency.
A few examples of this include; requiring a duty officer to report illegal or inappropriate behavior, or if an officer violates law or civil rights, the implementation of body cameras, reformed policies on the use of force and vehicle pursuits, and signing on to the pillars of understanding with the NAACP.
That was a tragic note in the report released Thursday, that suicides in Galesburg have increased 50 percent since 2015.
