BY DONNA SWICEGOOD
The City of Statesville experienced a slight decline in violent crime in 2025 from the previous year.
In his annual report to the City Council, Police Chief David Onley noted that violent crime remains about half of what it was in 2020. The city investigated 148 incidents classified as violent crime in 2025 — down from 300 incidents in 2020.
While property crime numbers were up slightly, the SPD saw a significant impact on a troublesome area in 2025.
“I think one of the things we’ve been successful in doing the last two years, as you can see, from 2023 we’ve notoriously had spikes every summer,” Onley said.
One of the SPD’s focuses in 2025, Onley said, was having the COPS officers and a group of teens, called junior ambassadors, actively involved with children and teens throughout the community.
“I think that’s had a positive impact on trying to reduce that and trying to have more things for kids to do during the summer to interact with police officers,” he added. “I think that’s the biggest thing I can relate that drop during the summer months to.”
Overall, the chief said, crimes against persons dropped 1.35 percent from 148 incidents in 2024 to 146 incidents last year, and crimes against property rose by 5 percent, from 959 in 2024 to 1,007 in 2025.
Onley said that the police department will continue to strive for ways to reduce crime.
The SPD Community Services Division conducted its annual Fill the Trailer Toy Drive, which runs from November through December, and provides toys for children in need throughout the area. The program started in 2018, when about 50 to 60 children were served. In 2025, 625 children received gifts through the program, the chief said.
Onley also told council members that the department recently received its Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. certification, completing a four-year process. This is the third time the SPD has received this certification, which recognizes best practices for law enforcement.
“It keeps us in line and we’re glad to be a part of that organization,” Onley said.
SFD Report
Statesville Fire Chief Glenn Kurfees also presented a report on activities for 2025.
The SFD ran 7,027 calls last year, including 942 fire calls. More than 4,500 were EMS calls and 477 involved technical rescue. The department answered six calls involving aircraft.
The fire department strives for a four-minute response time, Onley said. The addition of Station 5, which will be on Gaither Road at Radio Road and is set to open this summer, will greatly contributed to reaching that goal.
Kurfees said the department also increased the survival rate of cardiac arrest patients by 17.5 percent.
The SFD fire prevention program initiated a new program which involves training citizens to use fire extinguishers. Kurfees said 1,069 people were trained in 2025.
OTHER BUSINESS
Street Closure
A public hearing to close an unopened a portion of Henry Street, between South Center Street and Shelton Avenue, drew concerns from Council member Lisa Pearson.
The street, which was originally platted in 1925, Planned Matt Kirkendall said, but the road was never improved and did not function as a street in the city.
The 18-foot right-of-way would be divided among the two property owners and access would still be available in and out of the street, he said.
Pearson said she was concerned about closing a street the city never owned.
City attorney Leah Gaines Messick explained that the city was allowed to close the street under N.C. law .Since it was platted to the city in 1925, the city has the authority to approve the closure.
Pearson said she was concerned about getting involved in a dispute between the two property owners.
Council member Doris Allison asked who will be responsible for the maintenance of the property. Messick said the property owners would be responsible to keep the property up to city standards.
Chris Mayes, one of the two property owners, objected to the closure. He said a parking lot for an abandoned service station on the street has been used without problems for several years.
Ultimately, council voted unanimously to approve the closure.
Public Hearings
Council also approved two rezoning requests following public hearings.
The first reading of a request to rezone 540 Monroe Street from General Business to High Density Single-Family Residential was approved.
In the second request, a first reading to remove 18 acres of a 41-acre parcel on Weeping Cherry Lane from the city’s extra territorial jurisdiction to Iredell County’s jurisdiction, was approved. Kirkendall explained that the 18 acres were in the city’s ETJ but were not served by city utilities such as water and sewer.
Grant Application
Council also approved the application for a U.S. Department of Transportation grant to begin improvements from Sharpe Street to Amity Hill Road.
City Manager Ron Smith said the grant, if approved, will require a $1.4 million dollar match from the city. The total amount of the grant is $16.9 million.
The grant would allow the city to build sidewalks, improve or add pedestrian crossings and vegetation, among other improvements.
He explained the city match could come from a variety of sources, such as other grants, occupancy taxes and the general fund, split over a two-year timeframe. Smith said the city is not committing to fund the project with the application process and, if the grant is approved, the money would not have to be budgeted until 2028.
Proclamation
Mayor Doug Hendrix presented a proclamation to Statesville Branch NAACP President Todd Scott in recognition of February as Black History Month.