For Bernard Amofa, a first-year graduate student from Ghana, the American dream took on a new shape during his first week on the SIU Carbondale campus. In broad daylight, a simple act would reshape his view of safety in the “land of opportunity.” 

“A guy snatched my bicycle,” he said. “It changed my perception.” 

Amofa’s experience is not an isolated one. It reflects the broader safety concerns detailed in recent police reports in Carbondale. 

On Aug. 23, 2025, a traffic stop at 500 W. Freeman St. ended with Henry Dolmon, 20, and Corey M. Trapp Jr., 18, arrested on weapons charges. Police pulled over the vehicle due to a moving violation and discovered a firearm. According to the press release by the police department on Aug. 25, both suspects were armed.

A week later, on Sept. 2, police responded to a home invasion-style criminal trespass and assault at a residence in 300 E. Elm St. Laquisha L. Randolph, 31, and Dache L. Thomas-Kidd, 20, both of Carbondale, forcibly entered the victim’s home during a personal dispute. Randolph brandished a knife when entering, resulting in a physical altercation that left Thomas-Kidd with an injury. 

According to the initial press release, both suspects were arrested for Criminal Trespass to Residence, with Randolph getting an additional assault charge. Randolph was taken to Jackson County Jail pending a detention hearing, whereas Thomas-Kidd was released pending a court appearance.

These events are not just stories; they are real-world examples behind the city’s safety and crime statistics.

According to the most recent FBI data available, Carbondale has one of the highest crime rates in the nation, with a total crime rate of 4,096 per 100,000. This is 69% higher than the national average and 98% higher than the state average. For context, the city’s population was projected to be roughly 22,345 people in 2025, which means there could be between 900 to 1000 crimes yearly based on the rate. 

Carbondale finds itself at a crossroads with two distinct philosophies for achieving peace: a tactical police push measured in arrests, and a preventative community pull measured in changed lives.

The ground view

For those who call Carbondale home, safety is a constant negotiation between experience and loyalty.

“From what I’ve heard, the crime rate has slowly gotten a little bit worse,” said Connor Fitch, a freshman at SIU and Carbondale resident. “I’ve been told about certain gas stations to just stay away from.”

Through the lens of international students, the concept of safety is understood differently. For Amofa, his experience transformed the police from an abstract authority into a welcome sight. 

“When I see police, I feel more safe,” he said. 

This is contrasted with the experience of Arjit Dhakal, a final-year graduate student from Nepal, whose anxiety stems from America’s global reputation. 

“My family was worried about gun shootings,” he explained. “I do feel a bit concerned whenever police walk around me. It’s a different feeling.”

This spectrum of fear and concern unites students under a common plea, both to the city and university administration: a desire for security in Carbondale that is tangible and approachable.

A spectrum of solutions

Three distinct organizations lead the city’s efforts to reduce crime, each with a different mission and a leader driven by a deeply personal motivation.

Carbondale United

For Nancy Maxwell, the founder of Carbondale United, the fight against violence began as a direct response to personal tragedy.

“Carbondale United was born out of gaps we saw in the community,” Maxwell said. “As someone who has personally felt the pain of losing a loved one to violence, I knew we needed an organization that didn’t just respond after the fact, but worked every day to prevent those tragedies.”

This mission has shaped their entire approach to combating crime in Carbondale. Instead of focusing on arrests and seizures, Carbondale United works to “eradicate the reasons for violence” by linking distraught people with counseling, jobs and housing. They measure their success through stories: “a teen who chooses school over the streets,” Maxwell wrote. 

According to Maxwell, their current biggest challenge is limited resources. To combat the source — which she identifies as poverty and trauma — they need more funding, staff and volunteers.

The relationship between Carbondale United and the Carbondale Police Department is a web of complexity. 

“Sometimes our work complements theirs, and sometimes we challenge each other,” Maxwell wrote. “But ultimately, both sides want a safer city… Arrests alone won’t solve the problem, but opportunities will.”

Carbondale/ Southern Illinois University (SIU) Crime Stoppers

Bob Bahr, a longtime community member and president of Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers for the last seven years, has watched this city’s safety landscape change over the years. According to Bahr, the crime stoppers program was founded by citizens in the 1990s and is an independent entity that partners with local police to allow residents to report crimes with guaranteed protection of anonymity.

Bahr’s work is informed by a sobering national perspective about what is at stake — “14,000 murder cases reported in America per year,” Bahr said. For him, the key lies in bridging the gap of fear that often separates citizens from the police.

“Individuals who might consider reporting a crime may hesitate to do so due to fear of retaliation,” Bahr said during a “Be Prepared, Don’t Be Scared!” safety event on Sept. 13 at the Carbondale Civic Center. The anonymity of the Crime Stoppers tip line is his answer. His message to the community is a simple plea born from 15 years of service: “Pick up the phone and drop a tip.”

The Carbondale police and Chief Anthony Copeland

New Carbondale Chief of Police Anthony Copeland is not from the city; he is a law enforcement leader with two decades of experience in departments across multiple cities. 

“I was not looking to go someplace to be chief,” Copeland said. “I was actually contacted by some folks… they read the brochure and they were like, ‘We think Carbondale may be looking for you.’”

After nearly a month on the job, Copeland inherited a department in the midst of a tactical push. The Strategic Response Unit, launched in March 2025, made 80 arrests and seized 26 illegal firearms by July. While the idea of such a unit can be intimidating to some in the public, Copeland said its primary purpose is efficiency. With patrol officers handling over 60,000 calls for service annually, the SRU was designed to be a focused resource for high-priority issues like gun violence.

Chief Copeland’s philosophy is built on a foundation of understanding the community’s needs through listening. The “how” of his plan to build trust is presence. 

“I’m out there constantly,” he said. He sees his department’s tactical work and the preventative efforts of groups like Carbondale United as part of a necessary “holistic approach.” 

“We have to find the root cause,” Copeland said. “That’s where those partnerships come in. We have to be able to work together.”

Making sense of the two fronts

The SRU making arrests and seizures and Carbondale United creating opportunities can seem like opposing forces. According to Prof. Tammy Rinehart Kochel, a criminology expert at SIU, they are two sides of the same coin.

“They are meant to be complementary — meeting different needs, not either/or,” Kochel wrote in an email.

Kochel explains that “hot spots policing” — the SRU’s model — has proven effective at addressing immediate, “entrenched crime problems.” In contrast, “community-based prevention initiatives” — Carbondale United’s model — are “longer-term approaches” meant to address the “environmental conditions that facilitate crime and disorder.” 

How to report a crime

Anyone with information about a crime is encouraged to contact the Carbondale Police Department. To submit a tip anonymously, you can reach the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers at 618-549-COPS or the Murphysboro/Jackson County Crime Stoppers at 618-687-COPS. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers USA website. Cash rewards are available for information leading to an arrest.

News Reporter Trevor John can be reached at [email protected]

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