Crime statistics from the Minden Police Department and LSU crash data show declines in several major crime categories over a five-year period, according to figures released by Police Chief Jared McIver.
The data spans January 2021 through December 18, 2025, including two years prior to McIver taking office in 2023. McIver said the comparison is intended to show changes over time and the impact of staffing, training and enforcement strategies implemented during his administration.
“It took proactive policing to bring crime stats down,” McIver said. “I think being fully staffed has helped; more officers being seen on the streets equals crime prevention.”
One of the most notable reductions appears in reported shots fired incidents. In 2021, MPD recorded 145 shots fired calls. That number dropped to 77 in 2022, rose to 112 in 2023, then declined to 51 in 2024 and 56 in 2025.
McIver attributed part of that reduction to aggressive enforcement against gangs operating in the city.
“I think we’ve sent out a strong message that we’re not going to tolerate gang activity in this city,” he said.
According to McIver, two prominent gangs were active in Minden when he took office. Since then, 26 gang members have been arrested. He said about half have already been sentenced to more than eight years in prison, with the remaining cases still pending in court.
Violent disturbances, including assaults and batteries, also declined over the period. MPD recorded 1,052 such incidents in 2021. That figure dropped to 781 in 2022, increased to 920 in 2023, then fell to 708 in 2024 and 625 in 2025.
Property crimes showed a gradual downward trend as well. Theft and burglary reports totaled 381 in 2021, increased slightly to 416 in 2022 and 406 in 2023, then declined to 369 in 2024 and 361 in 2025.
Overall calls for service increased during the five-year span, rising from 8,689 in 2021 to 14,685 in 2025. McIver said the increase reflects both population activity and proactive policing, including officer-initiated traffic stops and field contacts.
“Our officers are more trained than they’ve ever been,” he said.
Traffic enforcement activity increased sharply during the period, particularly through the Safety Traffic Enforcement Program, which targets drivers traveling 12 mph or more over the speed limit on Interstate 20 and state highways through Minden. STEP citations rose from 645 in 2021 to 5,718 in 2025, with steady increases each year in between.
Crash data from LSU shows a general decline in overall motor vehicle accidents within the city, dropping from 617 in 2021 to 459 in 2024 before increasing to 548 in 2025. On Interstate 20, crashes increased from 23 in 2021 to 36 in 2025, while fatal crashes declined from two in 2021 to zero in 2024 and 2025.
Animal control calls also declined after MPD assumed responsibility for the division, decreasing from 133 calls in both 2021 and 2022 to 86 in 2025.
McIver said reductions in crime and improved public safety are not only about enforcement, but also about the city’s long-term growth.
“Businesses want to know about crime and, if we show a crime reduction, it’s an invitation to new businesses to come into Minden and grow Minden,” he said. “That’s what we’ve done; we have driven crime down.”
McIver said additional details and analysis of crime trends will continue to be shared with the public as part of the department’s ongoing transparency efforts.