Coldwater police report shows 7% drop in crime but rise in fraud and 'swatting' calls
April 13, 2026 | Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan
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The Coldwater Police Department presented its annual report to the City Council on April 13, noting an overall 7% decline in criminal complaints in 2025 and an uptick in several specific categories.
A department representative identified in the transcript as Joseph summarized staffing and trends: "we had 151 fraudulent activity reported last year compared to 97 in 2024," he said, and noted six local 'swatting' calls that consumed department resources. The department reported 1,088 criminal complaints in 2025, down from 1,175 the year prior, a roughly 7% decrease.
The report described personnel changes (three officers left; two were hired through the Branch Area Career Center on-the-job training pipeline) and said the department achieved re-accreditation through 2028. Officers are participating in multi-jurisdictional SRT training and the department is promoting recruitment and community outreach programs.
Why it matters: The rise in fraud and swatting incidents reflects broader trends in technology-enabled crime and places demands on local policing resources. The department emphasized training, detective capacity, and community prevention efforts.
Next steps: The department will continue targeted outreach on fraud prevention and maintain training and accreditation requirements; council members thanked staff and raised no formal motions on the report.
A department representative identified in the transcript as Joseph summarized staffing and trends: "we had 151 fraudulent activity reported last year compared to 97 in 2024," he said, and noted six local 'swatting' calls that consumed department resources. The department reported 1,088 criminal complaints in 2025, down from 1,175 the year prior, a roughly 7% decrease.
The report described personnel changes (three officers left; two were hired through the Branch Area Career Center on-the-job training pipeline) and said the department achieved re-accreditation through 2028. Officers are participating in multi-jurisdictional SRT training and the department is promoting recruitment and community outreach programs.
Why it matters: The rise in fraud and swatting incidents reflects broader trends in technology-enabled crime and places demands on local policing resources. The department emphasized training, detective capacity, and community prevention efforts.
Next steps: The department will continue targeted outreach on fraud prevention and maintain training and accreditation requirements; council members thanked staff and raised no formal motions on the report.
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