Law enforcement calls and complaints originating inside Columbia increased 23% in 2017 over the previous year, Tyrrell Sheriff Darryl Liverman reported.

Officers responded to 6,874 calls in 2017 versus 5,570 in 2016.

Breaking and entering calls doubled, from four to eight.

Nine fewer investigations were conducted, from 111 in 2016 to 102 in 2017.

Citations issued rose by 79%, from 140 in 2016 to 251 last year.

The number of warrants served rose from 50 to 63.

On-view arrests were almost the same: 20 in 2016 and 21 in 2017.

Orders for arrest, issued by a magistrate or judge, were up from 37 in 2016 to 41 last year.

And the number of criminal summons served fell from 6 in 2016 to 4 in 2017.

Business checks, which are not classified as law enforcement calls, were down 20%, from 5,570 in 2016 to 4,409 last year.

The two deputies assigned to duty inside Columbia drove 27,719 miles in 2017 versus 23,286 in 2016, a 19% increase in patrol activity.

The Town of Columbia does not maintain a police department. It contracts with the sheriff for enhanced services at an annual cost of $96,366, the same figure as in the past five years.