Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess says crime levels in Newton remain steady as the department closes out 2025 and looks ahead to the coming year.

Burdess says early projections indicate that call volume and reported incidents are tracking closely with those of previous years. He says Newton typically averages between 15,000 and 17,000 calls for service annually, a range that has remained consistent for more than a decade. Burdess added that the stability is a positive sign for the community, particularly as the department continues to focus on staffing, training, and proactive policing. He tells KRLS News that while no city is crime-free, Newton continues to experience relatively low levels of violent crime.

“As we look at our numbers, you know, for the year, very consistent with last year… we’re not seeing any spikes. We’re just seeing some consistency in what we’ve seen the past few years, and that’s always good.”

Property crime numbers are also expected to align closely with those of last year, though Burdess says a temporary increase in vehicle thefts contributed to a slight rise in that category. Those incidents were largely tied to a group targeting specific vehicles, and most of the stolen vehicles were recovered. Burdess says the department continues to adjust to changes in crime trends, including increases in fraud-related offenses, while maintaining consistent staffing and patrol coverage throughout the year.

Hear more from Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess on Monday and Tuesday’s Let’s Talk Newton.