OCALA, FL (352today.com)—The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) released data showing 2024 incident reports from across the state and how they compare to previous years.
The numbers break down the crime into three categories: property, violent, and other. The “other” category includes simple assault, drug-related offenses, fraud, identity theft, vandalism, kidnapping, stalking, etc.
Let’s break down some major categories by the numbers, separating the Ocala Police Department (OPD) from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), and compare them to 2023.
Property Crimes
- Larceny
- MCSO decreased from 722 to 564 reports
- OPD decreased from 752 to 660 reports
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- MCSO decreased from 391 to 302 reports
- OPD decreased from 137 to 73 reports
- Burglary
- MCSO decreased from 578 to 421 reports
- OPD decreased from 280 to 195 reports
Violent Crimes
- Aggravated Assault
- MCSO decreased from 747 to 600 reports
- OPD increased from 240 to 273 reports
- Robbery
- MCSO decreased from 41 to 31 reports
- OPD decreased from 57 to 40 reports
- Forcible Sex Offenses
- MCSO increased from 140 to 153 reports
- OPD increased from 63 to 48 reports
- Murder and Non-Negligent Manslaughter
- MCSO decreased from 21 to 12 reports
- OPD decreased from 11 to 5 reports
Other Crimes
- Simple Assault
- MCSO increased from 3,332 to 3,350 reports
- OPD decreased from 1,367 to 1,348 reports
- Drug Offenses
- MCSO increased from 1,327 to 1,447 reports
- OPD decreased from 1,367 to 1,348 reports
- Destruction/Damage/Vandalism
- MCSO decreased from 666 to 614 reports
- OPD decreased from 453 to 410 reports
- Fraud
- MCSO increased from 232 to 336 reports
- OPD decreased from 384 to 335 reports
- Weapons Law Offenses
- MCSO decreased from 256 to 234 reports
- OPD increased from 178 to 195 reports
- Non-Forcible Sex Offenses
- MCSO increased from 49 to 56 reports
- OPD increased from 131 to 167 reports
- Kidnapping/Abduction
- MCSO decreased from 38 to 31 reports
- OPD increased from 13 to 20 reports
- Stalking
- MCSO increased from 31 to 91 reports
- OPD increased from 31 to 53 reports
Takeaways
Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken sat with Mayor Ben Marciano to discuss the department’s improvements. The chief says maintaining safety around the city has been challenging, especially with a 4.3% increase in population compared to 2023.
For Balken, the most significant success was the drop in the murder rate.
“We dropped from 11 murders in 2023 to only 5 in 2024… one’s too many, but that’s a huge 54% decrease,” said Balken, who attributes the drop to changes within the department.
“We do a really good job running an intelligence-based police department, meaning if we can determine who in the 10% is committing 90% of the crime, we can focus on that small group with a scalpel rather than a chainsaw,” said Balken. “I believe we’ve become very efficient and proficient in doing that.”
Balken says the department has been using technology to the fullest extent to keep crime off the streets.
“We capitalize on technology at a very high level, using facial recognition, automated license plate readers, and facial scanners. It allows our officers to have a bigger impact on the community with far fewer officers,” said Balken.
The chief also cited the community, which he says has fully supported the police even during the hard times.
“Having the support of our community members goes a long way… over the past several years with the anti-police sentiment going on around the country, we didn’t see that in Ocala. I think that has a lot to do with where we are and recruitment and retention in 2025,” the chief said.