Sparta Police release annual report

SPARTA, Wis. (WKBT) — The Sparta Police Department saw a number of changes in 2013. It filed an annual report to the city this week.

The 70 page document includes crime statistics, a comparison to previous years, and awards earned.

Some of the police chief’s concerns included more drug arrests, an increase in traffic accidents, and the fact that the average blood alcohol level for an OWI was twice the legal limit.

On a positive note, the chief says there’s more community outreach through neighborhood watch programs and the department’s online presence.

Also, property crimes were down. The biggest drop was burglaries which were cut in half. The chief attributes the decline to some significant drug arrests made in 2012.