Crime rates have fallen dramatically across District 27 over the past eight years, according to the latest data from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

From 2017 to 2023, Oklahoma saw an overall decline of about 20 percent in violent and property crimes. But in District 27—covering Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah, and Wagoner Counties—the decrease was nearly twice as steep, with a 35 percent drop in reported crimes. Preliminary numbers from 2024 and 2025 show the downward trend is continuing.

District 27 District Attorney Jack Thorp credited the teamwork of local and state law enforcement agencies.

“I want to commend our law enforcement partners for their hard work and their commitment to our communities,” Thorp said. “Crime rates across our counties and in our local communities are lower than the state average and continuing to move in the right direction.”

The OSBI breaks down its crime statistics into three categories: crimes against persons (including murder, rape, robbery, and assault and battery), crimes against property (such as burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft), and crimes against society (including drug offenses, weapons violations, and animal cruelty).

Some of the most significant declines occurred in Cherokee County. There, crimes against persons dropped 15 percent, while property crimes plummeted 64 percent. Crimes against society fell by 34 percent.

Wagoner County also re- ported substantial decreases, with property crimes down 45 percent, crimes against society down 12 percent, and overall crime falling by more than 30 percent.

Adair County saw a 20 percent overall reduction, highlighted by a nearly 40 percent drop in property crimes. Sequoyah County recorded a more than 20 percent overall decline, including a 29 percent decrease in property crimes and a 45 percent drop in crimes against society.

Thorp said the improvements reflect both the dedication of law enforcement and the strength of local communities.

“District 27 has some of the best communities and most beautiful landscapes in Oklahoma,” Thorp said. “It is wonderful to see our communities becoming safer places to live.”

For more detailed crime statistics, visit okcrimestats. osbi.ok.gov or the FBI Crime Data Explorer at cde.ucr.cjis. gov.