GRAND JUNCTION, CO - Each year, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office meticulously reviews crime statistics from the previous year to best understand where efforts can and should be made to improve the safety and security of our community. This includes statistics from the state of Colorado as a whole.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigations began publicly reporting annual crime statistics for the state in 2008. This has since provided a historical timeframe and base from which the state and local agencies compare annual crime data.
Introduction to Crime Statistics
Since 2008, Property Crime and Violent Crime have increased across Colorado. However, Mesa County is an outlier. In the same timeframe, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office implemented Intelligence-Led Policing and proactive crime prevention steps, leading to an overall decrease in Property and Violent Crimes in unincorporated areas of Mesa County served by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
Property Crime Statistics
Property Crime in Mesa County saw its second lowest year on record since 2008. In fact, Property Crime in Mesa County has decreased by 28.89% since 2008, while it has increased by 38.45% statewide.
From 2023 to 2024, Mesa County and all of Colorado saw a decline in total fraud cases. In addition to aggressively investigating Fraud cases, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is taking a proactive approach to diminish the effects these cases have on our community. Most frequently, the individuals perpetrating the acts of fraud do not live in Mesa County nor the United States.
In 2024, Members of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office began working with State Legislators on Colorado Senate Bill 25-079, the Colorado Vending of Digital Assets Act. This bill would place a higher burden of transparency and accountability on owners of cryptocurrency kiosks and would limit transactions made by new customers. Investigators with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office testified in support of the bill in February 2025 and continue to work with legislators to move the bill forward.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office regularly exceeds the clearance rate of the state of Colorado for Fraud cases. In 2024, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office cleared 17.33% of all fraud cases, while the state held an average of clearing 9.77% of all fraud cases.
Additionally, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office began hosting monthly Fraud and Scam Prevention Classes. These classes aim to help our community members identify scams and frauds to prevent victimization, while also teaching community members what to do next if they do fall victim. These classes are held the last Thursday of each month.
Violent Crime Statistics
Unfortunately, Mesa County did see a slight increase in Violent Crime overall from 2023-2024 due to increases in Aggravated Assault and Non-Consensual Sex Offense cases. Despite the complexity of these crime types, the Agency remains committed to investigating each case thoroughly and developing innovative ways to reduce Violent Crime.
With this in mind, Violent Crime in Mesa County has decreased by 3.67%, while it has increased by 71.37% statewide since 2008.
Case Clearance Rates
Mesa County’s clearance rates continue to be higher than the state average in every crime category, including violent crime.
On average, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office successfully closed 23.11% of all Property Crime cases in 2024 compared to the state’s 14.63% clearance rate. Similarly, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office successfully closed 62.86% of all Violent Crime cases in 2024 compared to the state’s 42.96% clearance rate.
Three areas of note for clearance rates are Auto Theft, Robbery, and Burglary for Mesa County.
In 2024, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office had a 43.64% clearance rate for Auto Theft cases, while the state average sat at a 9.76% clearance rate. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has maintained a higher clearance rate than the rest of the state every year for Auto Theft cases since 2008.
In 2024, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office had a 90% clearance rate for Robbery cases, while the state average sat at a 29.91% clearance rate. There have only been three years in which Mesa County has not held a higher clearance rate for Robbery than the state average.
In 2024, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office had a 35.92% clearance rate for Burglary cases, while the state average sat at a 16.99% clearance rate. There has only been one year in which Mesa County has not held a higher clearance rate for Burglary than the state average.
As previously noted, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office regularly far exceeds the clearance rate of the state of Colorado for Fraud cases. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office set a goal in 2025 to reduce overall fraud cases and increase clearance rates through community outreach and education, legislative action, and improved investigative techniques.
Each employee of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, whether sworn or non-sworn, understands the importance of solving cases while maintaining the highest standards of police work. This has contributed to workplace excellency and deep care in all that is done within the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
Conclusion Note from Sheriff Todd Rowell
“We believe reducing crime is solving crime,” said Sheriff Todd Rowell. “The continued low crime rates in Mesa County are a direct result of the dedication to proactive policing, community partnerships, and creative problem solving demonstrated by the individuals who serve the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. It’s an honor to serve as the Sheriff of an organization and community that is leading the way in public safety in Colorado.”
Note: All statistics used for this report were up-to-date as of March 28, 2025 and can be found via the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) and Colorado Crime Statistics website. To access all crime statistic graphs and data charts, please click here.
