Pennington County, SD – Overall violent crime is down in Pennington County at the midway point of 2025. Violent crimes are down 40 percent, which includes the following crimes: aggravated assault, arson, burglary, homicide, robbery, sexual assault). Of note, there was a significant increase in the administration of Naloxone to prevent overdose deaths, pointing to continued drug use in Pennington County.
“It is encouraging to see a reduction in violent crimes,” said Investigations Captain Taylor Sperle. “Investigators continue to work hard in order to produce quality cases and to hold offenders accountable for their actions. We know substance abuse is often a root cause of other crimes and we remain committed to deploying law enforcement resources to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in our area.”
“Deputies continue to respond to increasing calls for service,” said Patrol Captain Kraig Wood. “We believe the pro-activity and visibility of our team corresponds directly to a drop in violent crime.” There was a noticeable increase in vehicle stops and DUI arrests, in particular, in the first six months of the year.
At the Care Campus, we are proceeding with a strategy of increasing admissions to Detox as opposed to Safe Beds. “With our community partners we continue to look for the best way to address chronic addiction in the homeless community,” said Care campus Director Tony Verchio. “We prioritize treatment over simply accommodating a lifestyle choice.”
