New Sioux Falls Crime Numbers Are Out For The First Half Of 2026

The city of Sioux Falls received some welcome news on Tuesday: Crime is trending downward in several major categories across the city.

That's news everyone should be happy to hear.

Keeping a city the size of Sioux Falls safe is no small task, so credit goes to the men and women of the Sioux Falls Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies who work every day to protect the Sioux Empire.

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According to Dakota News Now, new numbers show crime is down in three significant areas: homicides, robberies, and stolen vehicles.

So far this year, Sioux Falls has recorded four homicides, compared with eight at this point last year. Robberies are also down, and property crimes are trending lower.

Perhaps one of the more encouraging numbers involves stolen vehicles. Police say vehicle thefts have dropped at a remarkable rate compared with previous years.

With this good news, also comes a little not-so-good news.

Some Areas Are Moving in the Wrong Direction

While several categories are trending downward, assault crimes are up slightly in Sioux Falls.

Police are also seeing more crimes involving guns among youth and young adults.

Then there's another troubling statistic: DUI arrests in Sioux Falls have reached a record level.

Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum told Dakota News Now that officers are seeing more impaired driving arrests than they have in years. “We are arresting a record number of people for DUIs this year. And we are seeing more DUIs than we have in years. I think this is a warning for the community and a warning for everyone out there.”

One of the biggest tools Sioux Falls police now have in their crime-fighting toolbox is also one of the most controversial: automated license plate readers, commonly known as Flock Cameras.

Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County currently have 34 ALPR cameras operating in the area. The cameras capture license plates on public roadways and can alert authorities when a plate is associated with a wanted vehicle.

Supporters view the technology as another valuable tool for helping police locate suspects and stolen vehicles.

Critics, however, have raised concerns about privacy and how much information these cameras collect about people simply going about their daily lives.

That privacy debate is continuing here in Sioux Falls.

Dakota News Now reports that the city is working to formalize additional protections surrounding the technology. Sioux Falls Mayor Christine Erickson has said she plans to issue an executive order establishing additional guardrails for the use of ALPR cameras.

For Sioux Falls residents, the latest crime numbers offer some encouraging signs, particularly when it comes to homicides, robberies and stolen vehicles.

But police are gonna hold off on doing a victory dance for now.

The Sioux Falls Police Department plans to keep tracking crime through the rest of the year to see whether these trends continue to travel in the right direction.

10 Most Dangerous Cities in South Dakota

Cities on the east and west side of the Missouri River have made the latest list of South Dakota's Most Dangerous Cities for 2021.

Roadsnacks recently released its most 'Dangerous Cities' list and here in The Mount Rushmore state there are a few surprises, especially at the top. To determine the most dangerous cities in the state, Roadsnacks looked at the FBI's report on the latest violent crime, along with property crime statistics.

And surprisingly, the town with the most murders per capita in the state has less than 3,000 residents. Take a look at the list below.

For a look at the detailed list, visit roadsnacks.com Story Source: Roadsncaks