Montrose Police Department Releases Winter/Spring 2026 Public Safety Update

The Montrose Police Department has released its Winter/Spring 2026 City Beat Public Safety Edition, outlining 2025 crime statistics, code enforcement trends, upcoming community events, and department initiatives aimed at strengthening public trust and safety.

2025 Safety by the Numbers

In 2025, Montrose PD responded to 32,936 incidents, a slight 0.375% change from 2024. The calls ranged from routine traffic contacts to serious criminal investigations.

Several key crime categories declined in 2025:

• Theft of property dropped from 759 (2024) to 525 (2025)
• Domestic violence incidents decreased from 207 to 189
• Firearm-related crimes fell from 44 to 29
• Reported sexual assaults declined from 65 to 47

However, the department reported increases in:

• Overall assaults, rising from 236 to 288
• Commercial burglaries, increasing from 14 to 24

Traffic enforcement also saw a notable rise. Officers issued 1,427 traffic citations in 2025, up from 852 the previous year. Total traffic contacts increased from 2,812 to 4,421.

Full 2025 statistics are available at: CityofMontrose.org/PDStats

Code Enforcement: Voluntary Compliance First

Code enforcement remains a priority, with the department responding to 475 complaints in 2025. The most common issues involved:

• Weeds
• Junk storage
• Sign placement violations

Less than 7% of complaints resulted in citations, reflecting the department’s preference for voluntary compliance through cooperation and education.

Residents can report concerns through the SeeClickFix Montrose app or by calling 970-252-5200.

Domestic Violence Task Force & Housing Initiative

Montrose PD continues to partner with agencies across the 7th Judicial District as part of the Domestic Violence Task Force, which includes Delta, Montrose, Gunnison, Ouray, and San Miguel counties.

One major initiative underway is fundraising for a 10-unit housing development in coordination with CASA of the 7th Judicial District. The housing will provide safety and programming for domestic violence survivors, their families, and pets.

A gala fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Montrose Pavilion.

Citizens Police Academy – April 18

Residents can get a behind-the-scenes look at police operations during the 2026 Citizens Police Academy, scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The one-day academy covers:

• Patrol operations
• Crime scene investigations
• Victim services
• SWAT and specialty operations
• A critical-incident virtual training simulator

The academy is limited to 50 participants, and applications are due by March 13, 2026.

Western Colorado Law Enforcement Academy Enters Fifth Year

The Western Colorado Law Enforcement Academy (WCLEA) will train its fifth group of cadets in 2026. Established in 2022 in partnership with the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office and Colorado Mesa University, the 16-week POST-certified program prepares cadets for careers in law enforcement and offers college credit toward criminal justice degrees.

Looking Ahead

Chief Blaine Hall emphasized that maintaining community trust remains the department’s highest priority, with a continued focus on accountability, partnerships, and transparency.

As Montrose grows, the department’s public safety efforts — from crime reduction to community engagement — reflect an ongoing effort to balance proactive enforcement with service-oriented leadership.

More information and full newsletter details are available at:
CityofMontrose.org/CityBeat