Wagoner County Sees Sharp Reduction In Crime Over Last 3 Years

Crime rates are down significantly in one northeast Oklahoma county.

Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott said in just three years, they’ve seen a twelve-point drop in the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation crime index.

"We're seeing a continued trend in crime trending down," Elliott said. "We have become a law-enforcement agency that is very active in our community."

OSBI data gathered from 2017-2019 shows most counties near Tulsa have kept a relatively stable crime rate. That data shows Wagoner County cutting crime significantly - going from an index rate of just over 22 per 1,000, to just over 10 in 2019.

Elliott attributes the drop to a heavy emphasis in cutting drug-related crime, better use of social media and technology to keep in touch with residents, and a major shift towards community policing.

"That's where we learn all of our information," Elliot said. "When you have that good rapport and support from the community, your law-enforcement agency stands a much better chance of being successful."

Armed with information, Wagoner County Deputies have been able to make more drug arrests, which cuts crime and sends a clear message to would-be criminals.

"You keep enough pressure on them, and they're going to go someplace else," Sheriff Elliott said. "They're going to be completely out of Wagoner County because they know we mean business here."

From 2017 to 2019, data shows that Wagoner County was able to cut car theft numbers in half, break-ins by roughly 60% and felony assaults by 35%.