New crime data released by the Idaho State Police shows a general decline in criminal activity across most of North Idaho between 2024 and 2025, though Kootenai County recorded a significant jump in homicides during the same period.
The ISP report, which covers statistics from the prior calendar year, found that several North Idaho counties posted broad improvements. Bonner County and Clearwater County each saw decreases across all tracked crime categories from 2024 to 2025. Shoshone County and Boundary County posted moderate drops in nearly every category as well.
Kootenai County’s numbers were more mixed. The county recorded modest reductions in drug-related crimes, larceny, and burglary. However, homicides climbed sharply, from one in 2024 to eight in 2025. That spike stands out against an otherwise positive picture for the region’s most populous county.
The report also flagged trouble spots outside North Idaho’s core counties. Latah County saw burglaries rise by 70 incidents, a substantial increase. Idaho County and Nez Perce County both experienced spikes in fraud and drug crimes.
Governor Brad Little responded to the report on Wednesday, crediting Idaho’s law enforcement community for the overall trend. “Idaho continues to be one of the safest places to live, work, and raise a family, and the latest crime report is another testament to our commitment to public safety,” Little said.
The governor also pointed to the human effort behind the numbers. “This progress does not happen by accident. It is the result of the dedication, professionalism, and sacrifice of Idaho’s law enforcement officers, first responders, prosecutors, corrections workers, and community partners.”
The data offers a broadly encouraging picture for communities stretching from Bonners Ferry down through the Silver Valley. Shoshone County, which encompasses Wallace, Kellogg, and several smaller communities, has faced persistent economic and social challenges over the years, making the reported decreases across nearly all crime categories a notable development for residents there.
Similarly, Boundary County’s improvements reflect the kind of public safety stability that smaller rural communities depend on. With limited local law enforcement resources, declines in crime can have an outsized positive effect on daily life in towns like Bonners Ferry and Moyie Springs.
The homicide increase in Kootenai County will likely draw closer scrutiny. Going from one homicide to eight in a single year is a significant shift, even as other categories trended downward. It is not clear from the ISP data whether those cases are connected or represent separate incidents, and local law enforcement agencies have not commented publicly on the figures in connection with this report.
Drug crime reductions in Kootenai County are a positive sign, given that substance-related offenses often drive other criminal activity including property crime and theft. The small drops in larceny and burglary align with that pattern.
The ISP data does not break down crime by city within each county, so it is not immediately clear how much of Kootenai County’s homicide increase is concentrated in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, or other municipalities. Post Falls had previously drawn attention for a notable jump in violent crime, and the county-level homicide numbers may reflect activity across multiple jurisdictions.
Overall, the report gives North Idaho residents reason for measured confidence in public safety, particularly in the more rural counties. The outlier is the Kootenai County homicide figure, which authorities will need to address with transparency so residents understand the circumstances behind the numbers.
Idaho State Police periodically publishes crime statistics drawn from local agency reporting. The accuracy of county-level figures depends in part on consistent reporting from municipal and county law enforcement agencies across the state.
Category: News | Law Enforcement
North Idaho Republican Staff