Show summary Hide summary
Cheyenne police report a measurable drop in crime in 2026 compared with the same period last year, including during Cheyenne Frontier Days — a development that affects public safety planning for residents and large events. Department data show 20 fewer arrests during this year’s Frontier Days than in 2025 and declines across several categories through midyear.
Season-to-date trends
The Cheyenne Police Department said it compiles crime and arrest records in line with the FBI’s NIBRS framework, which breaks incidents into offenses against property, people and society. Using that dataset, the department reports a 12.4% decline in overall crime from the start of 2026 through the end of June.
Most reductions were in property offenses and personal crimes, both at the felony and misdemeanor levels. At the same time, the category the department labels crimes against society — which covers certain drug and weapons violations — rose by roughly 3% (about a dozen additional incidents). Within that group, however, crimes related to pornography and obscene material fell sharply, by about 80% year-to-date.
New Mexico sues DOJ and Todd Blanche over alleged obstruction of Epstein probe
Cheyenne crime drops in 2026 vs 2025: police report
Frontier Days: fewer calls, arrests and citations
During the ten days of Cheyenne Frontier Days (July 17–26), the department recorded 2,340 calls for service, 44 arrests and 84 traffic or ordinance citations. Compared with the 2025 festival, that represents 42 fewer calls and 20 fewer arrests.
Most people taken into custody during the event were detained on active warrants or for offenses such as public intoxication and domestic violence. Police also reported isolated incidents that included an arrest for indecent exposure, one vehicle theft arrest and two entries that matched the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
- Jan–Jun 2026: Overall crime down ~12.4% versus same period in 2025
- Crimes against society: Up ~3% (≈12 more incidents)
- Pornography/obscene material: Down ~80%
- Frontier Days (Jul 17–26): 2,340 calls; 44 arrests; 84 citations — 20 fewer arrests than 2025
- Most active festival dates: July 20 and July 23
Police logs indicate the busiest festival shifts clustered around those two dates, when officers handled a higher volume of calls and enforcement actions. Several arrests were tied to existing warrants rather than new, complex investigations.
Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco attributed the positive trend to collaborative work with partner agencies, community stakeholders and residents, and emphasized the department will continue focusing on sustaining the improvement through the remainder of the year.
What this means for residents and event organizers
For residents, a downward shift in reported crime suggests modestly improved day-to-day safety, though the uptick in some drug- and weapon-related offenses points to areas that still need attention.
For festival planners and law enforcement, the data reinforce the value of coordinated patrols, visible policing and interagency cooperation during high-attendance events. Declines in arrests and calls can reduce strain on emergency services, but officials note that single incidents — such as vehicle thefts or NCIC hits — can still require significant resources.
All figures were released by the Cheyenne Police Department as part of its routine reporting. The department continues to publish detailed incident and arrest data consistent with federal reporting standards.
