Overview of Total Calls for Service:
Over the past six months (May–October 2025), the Howell County Sheriff’s Office responded to 7,322 calls for service. Monthly totals fluctuated due to seasonal activity patterns, school-related calls, and proactive enforcement initiatives.
Month Total CFS:
May 1,224
June 1,274
July 1,340
August 1,117
September 1,189
October 1,178
Six-Month Trend Summary:
1. Summer Surge (June–July)
Calls for service increased steadily through June and peaked in July (1,340 CFS), the highest month in the six-month window.
This aligns with:
• Increased roadway activity during summer break
• Larger community events
• Higher volumes of civil process service
• Seasonal property crimes (burglary, stealing, vehicle stops)
2. August Dip (1,117 CFS)
August saw the sharpest decline, down 16.6% from July.
Reasons include:
• Reduction in summer travel traffic
• Start of school, which generally decreases daytime incidents
• Fewer agency assists and fewer extra patrol requests
• Lower calls in burglary, animal complaints, and disturbances
3. Stabilization in Fall (September–October)
September and October reflect leveling activity, with totals of:
• September: 1,189 CFS
• October: 1,178 CFS
Fall months typically bring:
• More child custody calls
• Steady civil process workloads
• Increased juvenile-related reports with school back in session
• Fewer animal calls as weather cools
September–October 2025 Changes and Analysis
Categories with Notable Decreases from September → October
• Disturbance calls: 42 → 28 (↓33%)
• Animal calls: 42 → 33 (↓21%)
• Extra patrol: 55 → 38 (↓31%)
• Vehicle accidents: 6 → 0 (↓100%)
• Civil matters: 43 → 26 (↓40%)
• Harassment/threats: 10 → 8 (↓20%)
These reductions are consistent with:
• Cooler weather reducing outdoor disputes and animal contacts
• Fewer road hazards
• Increased routine patrol presence reducing calls for extra patrols
Categories with Increases from September → October
• Sex offenses: 1 → 7 (↑600%)
• Robbery: 0 → 1
• Arson: 0 → 1
• Auto theft: 0 → 2
• Missing persons: 3 → 4
• Suicide attempts: 7 → 9
Most increases fall within typical seasonal variation rather than patterned spikes.
October historically sees:
• Higher reporting of sensitive crimes
• Increased mental-health-related calls
• More property crime as holidays approach
Key Activity Areas Driving CFS Totals
1. Civil Process Service – Consistently High
Civil process remains the largest single call category:
• October: 183
• September: 189
• Six-month high: 211 in July
This reflects HCSO’s heavy court-related support workload.
2. Vehicle Stops
Vehicle stops show high fluctuation:
• July peak: 286 stops
• October/September: 152 each
These spikes correlate with:
• Directed enforcement patrols
• Operation-based traffic campaigns
• Event traffic around the county
3. Suspicious Activity
Month-by-month:
• October: 58
• September: 61
• July peak: 80
Suspicious activity calls often align with increased patrol presence and public reporting, especially during summer and pre-holiday months.
Interpretation of Trends
Seasonal Impact
• Warm months = more movement, more disputes, more thefts, more vehicle stops.
• Cooler months = decreased animal complaints, roadway hazards, and disturbances.
Proactive Enforcement
Traffic operations, patrol saturation, and targeted efforts (fugitive task force, narcotics suppression) influence:
• Vehicle stops
• Warrant arrests
• Agency assists
School-Year Effects
The return to school boosts:
• Juvenile offenses
• Child custody calls
• Well-being checks
And reduces:
• Daytime disturbances
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