(COLDWATER) -- Criminal complaints in Coldwater dropped significantly late last year, even as police sharply increased traffic and parking enforcement, according to the department's fourth-quarter 2025 activity report.
The Coldwater Police Department reported handling 260 criminal complaints from October through December, a 20 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Of those cases, 76 percent were solved or closed. Police said 64 percent were fully resolved with enforcement action, 12 percent were solved without prosecution, and 24 percent remain open or unsolved due to insufficient evidence.
Overall calls for service also declined. Total complaints -- including criminal, non-criminal, and traffic accidents -- fell 7 percent year-over-year to 2,274. Non-criminal complaints rose slightly to 376, while reported vehicle accidents increased 6 percent to 143. Of those crashes, 131 involved property damage and 12 resulted in injuries. No fatal crashes were reported during the quarter.
While reported crime trended downward, enforcement activity increased substantially. Officers issued 652 traffic citations during the quarter, a 70 percent jump from the previous year. Common violations included lack of insurance, speeding, failure to yield, and disregard of traffic control devices.
Parking and ordinance enforcement more than doubled, with 204 violations issued compared to 100 during the same period in 2024.
Police said the increase in citations reflects proactive enforcement efforts aimed at improving traffic safety and compliance. Despite the higher number of citations, revenue from tickets and related enforcement totaled $2,599.38 for the quarter, down from $5,765.51 the year before.
Several crime categories saw notable declines, including domestic offenses, fraud, burglary, assault and battery, and larceny. No homicides, robberies, or arsons were reported during the quarter.
Coldwater police officials said the data points to improved public safety while maintaining a focus on traffic control and neighborhood quality-of-life issues across the city.