Annual Riverton Police Report - 2026

Working Together for a Safer Riverton Riverton Police Department

The Riverton Police Department is dedicated to improving the quality of life in our community by providing professional, responsive, and effective public safety services. Our goal is to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for both residents and visitors, where families can thrive, businesses can succeed, and neighborhoods remain strong. We believe that public safety is a shared responsibility, and our vision is to work collaboratively with community members, businesses, schools, and other partners to identify concerns, build trust, and find peaceful, long-term solutions to challenges facing our city.

To achieve this vision, we use data analysis, hotspot mapping, and evidence-based policing strategies to guide our operations and deploy resources where they are needed most. By carefully examining crime trends, calls for service, traffic concerns, and other public safety data, we can identify emerging issues and respond proactively before they become larger problems. This information allows us to strategically position officers, focus enforcement efforts, and implement best practices tailored to the specific needs of our community. Through this combination of community partnership, innovation, and proactive policing, the Riverton Police Department continues to enhance public safety and help create a safer environment for everyone who lives, works, and visits Riverton.

Riverton Police Department

Overview of Services

Patrol

Maintaining safety and order in our neighborhoods by providing proactive patrol services, responding to calls for service, preventing crime, enforcing laws and ordinances, and building positive relationships with residents to enhance community trust and quality of life.

Investigations

The Riverton City Police Department Investigations Unit is staffed by 10 specialized detectives who handle a wide range of cases and provide focused expertise in criminal investigations. Their work is complemented by proactive community engagement efforts, including the assignment of three School Resource Officers (SROs) to the local high school and two area middle schools. These officers serve as an immediate and approachable resource, strengthening community outreach and building long-term, positive relationships with students and families.

The department also deploys two plainclothes detectives dedicated to investigative operations and real-time crime response, enhancing flexibility and effectiveness in dynamic situations. Additionally, one detective is assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, ensuring access to the latest tools, training, and intelligence to better protect the community from online exploitation and related crimes.

Rounding out the unit are four highly experienced detectives who bring specialized skills and a strong commitment to serving Riverton’s residents, contributing to a well-balanced and capable investigative team.

SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics)

The Riverton City Police Department has been an active member of the South Valley SWAT Team since 2019. This specialized unit consists of 53 members and is classified as a Tier 1 team according to National Tactical Officers Association standards, indicating a high level of training, readiness, and operational capability.

To support its role within the SWAT team and ensure community safety, the Riverton Police Department maintains several key assets. These include a command vehicle designed to rapidly establish on-scene coordination and resource management for a wide range of operations. Additionally, the department operates a 12-passenger armored vehicle that provides enhanced protection and mobility, enabling officers to safely conduct rescues and respond effectively during active, high-risk situations within the community.

Negotiations

The Riverton City Police Department is an active member of the South Valley Negotiations Unit, a collaborative team made up of several agencies that contribute their most experienced

and highly trained negotiators. This regional approach ensures a depth of expertise and a coordinated response to critical incidents.

Riverton City Police supports these operations with a dedicated command vehicle, allowing for immediate, on-site coordination and communication during high-risk situations. This mobile resource enhances the ability to manage incidents effectively and work toward safe, controlled outcomes.

The department also employs advanced technology and modern communication equipment, providing negotiators with the tools to respond to volatile, rapidly evolving circumstances. Each member of the Negotiations Unit is carefully selected and extensively trained to deescalate tense situations, manage critical incidents, and, whenever possible, bring even the most unstable encounters to a safe and peaceful resolution.

Canine Unit

The Riverton Police Department utilizes trained dogs to assist in various law enforcement tasks, including drug detection and search operations.

Major Accident Team

Responding to and investigating serious accidents to ensure thorough understanding and accountability with specialized team members.

Crossing Guards

The Riverton City Police Department supports student safety through a team of 47 dedicated crossing guards who help ensure children can travel to and from school safely. These guards serve the community in all weather, providing a consistent, reliable presence at key crossings throughout the city.

The program is overseen by a crossing guard supervisor who coordinates schedules, provides direction, and ensures coverage where it’s needed most. All crossing guards receive training aligned with current traffic laws and safety regulations, helping maintain a high standard of service and public safety.

Together, this team plays a vital role in protecting students and supporting the community by creating safer routes for daily school travel.

Community-Oriented Policing

Building connections with the community through block parties, outreach programs, and the Citizens’ Police Academy to strengthen the bond between residents and members of the police department.

Patrol Division

The Riverton Police Department’s Patrol Division consists of 5 Sergeants and 20 Officers,

organized into five patrol crews that provide seamless 24/7/365 police services to the Riverton community.

Each Sergeant and Officer is assigned a fully equipped patrol vehicle and outfitted with essential law enforcement tools, including a duty handgun and patrol rifle, ballistic vest, Electronic Control Weapon, body-worn camera, and in-car laptop computer.

Patrol personnel respond to both emergency and non-emergency calls for service while actively patrolling the community to deter crime and enhance public safety. They conduct investigations into suspected criminal activity and enforce the law through a combination of community education, official warnings, citations, and physical arrests when necessary.

Training

Riverton Police Officers are committed to continuous professional development and participate in comprehensive annual training. Each officer receives a minimum of 40 hours of in-service training per year, covering critical topics such as arrest control techniques, deescalation strategies, and other essential law enforcement skills.

In addition, officers receive specialized crisis intervention training at least every three years. This includes instruction on responding effec-

tively to individuals experiencing mental health crises, autism spectrum disorder, other neurological and developmental disorders, as well as trauma-informed responses to sexual assault and sexual abuse investigations, in full compliance.

Animal Control/Shelter

The Riverton Police Department’s Animal Control Unit consists of two Animal Control Officers (ACOs). These officers conduct proactive patrols and respond to citizen complaints regarding violations of the city’s animal control code. They investigate incidents, enforce animal-related ordinances, and work to ensure public safety and responsible pet ownership.

The Animal Control Officers also manage the Riverton City Animal Shelter. Stray animals are housed at the shelter until their owners can be identified and the animals are reclaimed. If not claimed within seven days, the animals are made available for adoption or transferred to partner animal rescue organizations.

Statistical Report Overview

Public Safety/Disorder Events Traffic Events

Public Safety/Disorder is the department’s largest category, accounting for more than 15,000 cases from 2019–2025. These cases primarily involve community assistance and quality-of-life concerns rather than traditional criminal offenses. Common case types include citizen assists, suspicious activity, welfare checks, civil matters, mental health-related calls, animal issues, health and safety concerns, neighborhood disputes, and police assistance requests. The high volume reflects the significant amount of service-oriented work performed by officers each year.

Public Safety/Disorder Summary

• Public Safety/Disorder calls is the department’s largest category.

• Incidents increased steadily through 2023 before declining thereafter.

• Despite recent decreases, service demand remains elevated.

Traffic is the second-largest category with more than 7,300 cases. This category includes reportable and non-reportable traffic accidents, hitand-run crashes, abandoned or impounded vehicles, moving and nonmoving traffic violations, DUI and drug-impaired driving investigations, and vehicle pursuits. Traffic accidents make up the majority of these cases, highlighting the ongoing demand for traffic enforcement and crash response services.

Traffic Summary

• Traffic incidents peaked in 2023, then declined.

• Crashes remain the largest traffic-related activity.

• Traffic enforcement demand remains consistently high.

Property Crime Events

Property Crime includes more than 4,200 reported cases involving theft, burglary, vehicle theft, vandalism, and property damage. The most common offenses are shoplifting, vehicle prowls, thefts from yards, vehicle thefts, and residential burglaries. Property damage reports and burglary alarm responses also account for a significant portion of this category. Property crimes consistently represent one of the most frequently reported criminal offenses in Riverton.

Property Crime Events Summary

• Property crimes peaked in 2020, then declined steadily.

• Reported incidents decreased 54% from 2020 through 2025.

• Property crime remains among Riverton’s most frequently reported offenses.

Domestic/Family

Events

The Domestic/Family category includes approximately 1,800 cases involving family disputes, domestic violence incidents, child abuse and neglect investigations, protective order violations, and peacekeeping requests. Non-criminal domestic disputes and criminal domestic violence cases make up the largest share of these reports. These calls often require significant officer time due to the sensitive nature of familyrelated situations.

Domestic/Family Events Summary

• Domestic/family events peaked in 2020 with 317 reports.

• Reports increased in 2023 and 2024 before declining.

• Domestic/family incidents remain a significant demand on officers.

Fraud/Financial Events

Fraud/Financial crimes account for more than 1,100 cases and include identity theft, credit card fraud, wire fraud, impersonation, forgery, computer-related fraud, false pretenses, and other financial scams. Identity theft and fraudulent use of credit cards are among the most common offenses. As technology and online commerce have grown, financial crimes have become an increasingly important area of investigation.

Fraud/Financial Events Summary

• Fraud/financial crimes peaked in 2020 with 210 reports.

• Reports rebounded in 2023 before declining through 2025.

• Identity theft and fraud remain persistent investigative challenges.

Violent Crime Events

Violent Crime includes just over 1,000 cases involving assaults, aggravated assaults, threats, intimidation, stalking, robbery-related incidents, and kidnapping or custodial interference cases. Simple assault is the most frequently reported offense in this category, followed by threats and intimidation-related reports. Although less common than property or traffic-related incidents, violent crimes often require extensive investigative resources.

Violent Crime Events Summary

• Violent crime reports remained relatively stable from 2020–2024.

• Reported incidents peaked in 2021 with 185 cases.

• Violent crimes often require extensive investigative resources and follow-up.

Drug Offense Events

Drug Offenses account for approximately 850 cases and include possession, distribution, and manufacturing offenses involving marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and other controlled substances. Drug paraphernalia cases and suspicious drug-related activity reports are also included. Marijuana possession and suspicious drug activity reports make up a significant portion of this category.

Drug Offense Events Summary

• Drug offense reports peaked in 2020 with 203 incidents.

• Reported drug offenses declined steadily from 2021 through 2025.

• Drug-related activity remains an important focus of enforcement.

Juvenile

Events

The Juvenile category includes more than 700 cases involving runaway juveniles, missing juveniles, juvenile behavioral issues, and juvenile offender-related incidents. Public order calls involving juveniles and runaway reports account for the majority of cases. These incidents often require coordination with parents, schools, social services, and other agencies.

Juvenile Events Summary

• Juvenile events increased significantly between 2019 and 2024.

• Reported incidents peaked in 2024 with 162 cases.

• Runaway juvenile reports account for most juvenile-related calls.

Sex Offense Events

Sex Offense cases total approximately 460 reports and include sexual assault, rape, child sexual abuse, fondling, molestation, exploitation of minors, and sex offender registration violations. Cases involving child victims make up a substantial portion of this category. While relatively low in volume compared to other categories, these investigations are among the most complex and resource-intensive handled by the department.

Sex Offense Events Summary

• Sex offense reports peaked in 2024 with 90 cases.

• Annual reports remained relatively consistent from 2020 through 2024.

• These investigations are among the department’s most complex cases.

Other Events

The Other category contains a small number of specialized offenses that do not fit neatly into the department’s primary reporting categories. These cases include custodial interference, obscenity-related offenses, and a limited number of unique incident types. With only 42 cases reported during the seven-year period, this category represents a very small portion of the department’s overall workload.

Other Events Summary

• Other events represent a very small share of workload.

• Annual reports remained low and relatively stable since 2020.

• This category includes unique incidents outside primary reporting classifications.