The Newton Police Department appreciates community members being proactive about keeping their community safe and being an extra set of eyes and ears. The police department does not endorse or encourage citizens to proactively patrol the community while armed and does not recommend approaching or confronting suspicious individuals in public or on private property that is now owned by the citizen. Sworn police officers have the legal authority and training to carry out those duties in a safe and legal manner and encourage citizens to call police at 641-792-1547 in the event they witness a crime or believe a person’s behavior is suspicious. The social media aspect of the Neighborhood Watch group is appreciated, but their activities are not affiliated or coordinated with the Newton Police Department.
In 2016, crime reports in Newton were the lowest in over 2 decades. Despite the sharp decrease in 2015-2016, crime is present in Newton, just like every other city in the US. In comparing Newton to other Iowa cities in the 10,000 – 20,000 population range, Newton has a low violent crime rate and is comparable to cities of the same population as it relates to the property crime rate. The police department has a positive partnership with Jasper County Crime Stoppers and encourages and appreciates similar community partnerships to safely address crime and keep our community safe for all residents and visitors.
