An overview of 2023 Crete  Police Department statistics show the Village of Crete is not immune to crime, but overall remains a very safe and secure community, according to a report from Police Chief Scott Pieritz.
In his report to the village board on January 22, Pieritz praised his department’s efforts.
“The police department works very hard to protect and serve the community and investigate and arrest criminals,” he said. 
“I pride myself on being transparent with the community and releasing information I believe every resident has the right to know. The police department tracks statistics and data in order to monitor and evaluate changes in our community. This information is used to implement strategies, including proactive enforcement efforts to combat, solve, and deter crime in our village.”
Between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, the department responded to 
14,139 calls for service. The number “includes everything we are dispatched to or officers self-dispatch/self-initiate,” the chief said.
During the year, 1,240 traffic tickets were issued, along with 552 village sticker tickets, 253 Ordinance/ parking tickets, and 202 other ordinance/ adjudication tickets.
Also, there were 335 Assist Other Police Department calls, 736 Assist Crete Fire Department calls, 360 Suspicious Vehicle/ Person calls, 4 Robbery calls, 70 Battery/Assault calls, 127 Domestic calls, 32 Vehicle/Residential Burglary calls, 275 alarm responses, 68 Theft calls, 14 Vehicle Theft calls, 196 Animal-at-Large/Found/Other calls, 32 Vandalism/Criminal Damage calls, and 22 DUIs.
In a comparison of 2023 to 2022, Chief Pieritz noted, “DUIs, thefts, burglaries, alarms, and suspicious persons/vehicles were all higher in 2023.”
However, he emphasized that “animal calls, domestics, assist the fire department and other police agencies, and traffic accidents were all down in 2023.
“We more than doubled traffic tickets issued in 2023. Total traffic tickets issued in 2022 (were) 504, with 1,240 issued in 2023.”
At the same time, “Mental health/well-being calls for service have skyrocketed,” he said. “Proactive police work was increased in 2023 as manpower increased, new officers hitting the street, and new protocol and strategies were implemented. This is reflective in increased traffic tickets, arrests, and stopping of suspicious vehicles/persons.
“The police department accomplished a lot in 2023, and I look forward to keeping the momentum in 2024.”
Also in police news recently:
  • Officer Luis Garcia graduated from Macon County Police Academy on December 22. He has begun his 12-week field training. On December 29, Pieritz swore-in the department’s newest police officer, Sergio Gutierrez. Officer Gutierrez began the 16-week police academy training on January 8. At this time, the department is fully staffed.
  • Crete PD is scheduled for training and implementation of their new body cameras the second week of March. Representatives from Digital Ally will be out to train officers and set up the body camera equipment. Pieritz said there will be a trial run to work out the bugs and get accustomed to this new technology.
  • The Crete Police Department remembers and honors Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic, #514 of the Bradley Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty on December 30, 2021.
  • The Crete Police Department honors Joe Gleason, who passed away in December. I worked with Joe through Alicia’s House and other volunteer events
  •  Pieritz also wants to remind the public of Village Ordinance Section 25-39, No Parking on roadways after two inches of snowfall. We encourage the public to monitor the weather and remove vehicles when it snows. “DPW cannot do their jobs if the roads aren’t cleared. Violators can receive a $100 fine,” he said.