Storm Lake, Iowa (NorthwestIowaNow.com) — A 12% drop in serious crime is a significant win for any department, especially one juggling 48,000 calls a year.

Storm Lake Police Chief Chris Cole says the department remained busy despite being short-staffed for much of the year due to military deployments.

 

Chief Cole said the biggest event his department had in 2025 was in the first month of the year.

 

Chief Cole says the police ice cream truck patrol, and neighborhood “pop-up BBQs” were a big hit, too.

 

The 2025 Storm Lake Police Department Annual Report is available to the public on the Storm Lake city website.