Safety in Columbus
Columbus doesn’t have its own police figures in the FBI’s data. It’s most likely covered by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol. Below is what they report, along with the nearest towns that have their own numbers.
What stands out about safety in Columbus
Columbus is covered by the county and the state police
Columbus has no police department of its own in the FBI’s data, so there’s no crime rate or Safety Grade for the town itself. Calls here most likely go to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol. Across the whole area it patrols, the Platte County Sheriff’s Office reported 39 property and 11 violent crimes in 2025, with property crime down 48% since 2022. The State Patrol isn’t in the FBI’s newest tables, so 2023 is its latest figure. Who patrols here ↓
The nearest towns with figures are close by
The closest towns that report to the FBI are Columbus (3 mi), Schuyler (13 mi) and Madison (27 mi). Their grades run from B to A−, so treat them as a rough guide, not a stand-in. Nearest towns ↓
Written from the FBI data on this page. County and state agency figures cover their whole patrol area, not just this town, so they can’t be turned into a rate.
Columbus is covered by the county and the state
Columbus has no police department of its own in the FBI’s data. Calls here most likely go to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol, and their numbers cover the whole area they patrol, not just Columbus.
Crimes reported in the parts of Platte County it patrols: the towns and villages without police of their own.
Property crimes (burglary, theft, stolen cars)
Violent crimes (assault, robbery, rape, murder)
The State Patrol also patrols Platte County, mostly its rural roads and towns.
Property crimes (burglary, theft, stolen cars)
Violent crimes (assault, robbery, rape, murder)
The State Patrol isn’t in the FBI’s 2024 and 2025 tables (no full year reported), so 2023 is its newest figure.
These are counts, not rates. The FBI doesn’t publish how many people each agency covers, so we can’t turn them into a per-resident figure or a Safety Grade. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, offenses known to law enforcement by county and by state agency.
The closest towns that report their own numbers
None of the towns bordering Columbus has its own figures either, so here are the nearest towns with their own police departments in the FBI’s data. Tap one to see its safety page.
| Town | Grade | Distance | Violent | Property | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | B | 3 mi | 0.8 | 7.5 | 2025 |
| Schuyler | A− | 13 mi | 0.7 | 3 | 2025 |
| Madison | — | 27 mi | 0 | 0 | 2025 |
| Scribner | — | 36 mi | 0* | 0* | 2025 |
| Albion | — | 39 mi | 0 | 0 | 2025 |
| U.S. average | 3.3 | 15.5 | 2025 |
Reported crimes per 1,000 residents in each town’s latest year; * = a count, for towns under 1,000 people; — = not graded. Distances are straight-line. Nearby towns can be very different from Columbus: a small village and a city aren’t alike.
Know who to call, and what the weather can do
For emergencies, the nearest ER, and the storms and floods Columbus plans for.
Expected damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities. 21 paid flood insurance claims since 1979.
Natural hazards in Columbus →Phone numbers come from neighbors and the town’s own site (the Handbook). A number you add goes live once two neighbors confirm it.
Heads-up board
Neighbors looking out for each other in Columbus.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Please don’t name or describe individuals. In an emergency, call 911.
Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: offenses known to law enforcement by city, and state and national rates. Counts are crimes reported to police, not convictions. The Safety Grade is our own summary of that data, not an official rating. Natural hazards: FEMA National Risk Index and flood insurance claims. Hospitals: CMS Hospital General Information. This isn’t an official statement of public safety. In an emergency, call 911.