Staff Report

ROCKFORD – The Rockford Police Department scored high marks during an audit as the only police department in Illinois that submits National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data to the FBI.

The data goes much deeper than the traditional summary system by providing circumstances and context for crimes. Rockford Police Department became a NIBRS contributor in 2006.

Recently, the FBI’S Criminal Justice Information Services Division Audit Unit conducted a Uniform Crime
Reporting Quality Assurance Review. The review consisted of analyzing hundreds of different incidents from the department’s 2017 submissions to look for data discrepancies.

The results showed the success of RPD’s records department, meeting Uniform Crime Reporting guidelines overwhelmingly.

“The knowledge and understanding of [the Rockford Police Department] and the NIBRS contributed to the success of the review,” said Nancy Carnes of the Criminal Justice Information Services Audit Division.

The review is the third of its kind the Rockford Police Department has undergone since it began utilizing NIBRS. All three times the department has proved to be in good standing with the federal guidelines for reporting crimes.

“I am grateful for all the work the records division does behind the scenes every day,” Rockford Police Chief Dan O’Shea said. “The support they provide sworn officers is vital to the
department’s success.” R.