Overall Crime Down In Black Hawk County

Overall crime was down in Black Hawk County in 2019, according to statistics released Wednesday by Sheriff Tony Thompson.

Despite most figures being lower than they were in 2018, certain types of crimes increased. The numbers show there were slightly more burglaries, thefts and OWI arrests last year.

Right now, a big concern for Thompson is an increase in the number of inmates at the Black Hawk County Jail. According to the sheriff, the increase in jail numbers is currently a major focus for his department.

"As this annual report will show, our booking numbers are decreasing, but our average daily population continues to increase dramatically," Thompson said. "We are holding more forcible felons in the Black Hawk County Jail than ever in its history, and their heads stay in our beds for a much longer stay while navigating the courts. This creates a bottleneck that challenges us for bedspace.