Sparta Police Department

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

* Owner Located*

Dog located near the pawn shop in Sparta. Please call the Sparta Police Department to claim!

08/14/2026

UPDATE: LOCATED!

The Sparta Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 13-year-old Lexus Kempfer.

Lexus was last seen wearing:

* Black shoes
* Black shorts
* Yellow tank top

Anyone with information regarding Lexus’s whereabouts or who may have seen her is asked to contact the Sparta Police Department immediately at 618-443-4331.

08/08/2026

Officer Otten and Officer Brooks were able to grab a fresh lemonade 🍋 on W Broadway this morning. Thanks for the cool drinks on a hot day.

07/29/2026

Now Hiring a Full Time Police Officer! Applications can be picked up from our dispatch center or contact a member of our admin team!

07/28/2026

On 07/28/26 at approximately 5:35 PM, an Officer with the Sparta Police Department conducted a traffic stop @ Taco Bell. During the course of the stop, 41 year old Candace O. Jones of Tilden, IL was arrested.

Jones was arrested on an active warrant out of Perry Co, IL. Jones is currently being held at the Perry Co Jail.

DISCLAIMER: ALL DEFENDANTS ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN THE COURT OF LAW.

07/22/2026

⚠️ Counterfeit Currency Alert ⚠️

The Sparta Police Department has recently received multiple reports of businesses receiving counterfeit currency within our community. We are asking both local businesses and the public to carefully inspect any cash before accepting it.

The counterfeit bills we’ve encountered closely resemble real U.S. currency but are clearly marked with phrases such as “FOR MOTION PICTURE PURPOSES,” “THIS IS NOT LEGAL TENDER,” or “COPY.” These bills are intended for use as movie props and have no monetary value.

Here are a few tips to help identify counterfeit bills:
• Look for wording such as “For Motion Picture Purposes,” “Copy,” or “Not Legal Tender.”
• Feel the paper—genuine U.S. currency has a unique texture that is difficult to duplicate.
• Hold the bill up to the light to check for security features such as a security thread and watermark, which are often missing or incorrect on counterfeit bills.
• Use a counterfeit detection pen or UV light if your business has one available.

If you believe you have received counterfeit currency:
• Do not attempt to pass it to anyone else.
• Contact the Sparta Police Department to make us aware.

We appreciate everyone’s assistance in helping protect our local businesses and community. Please consider sharing this post to keep our community informed.

The photos below are examples of counterfeit bills that have recently been reported in our area.

06/30/2026

On 06/30/26 at approximately 7:45 AM, an Officer with the Sparta Police Department arrested 66 year old Alvin H. Penny of Sparta, IL for the following offense:

Threatening a Public Official

DISCLAIMER: ALL DEFENDANTS ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN THE COURT OF LAW.

06/21/2026

On Sunday, June 21, 2026, at approximately 2:20 p.m., officers with the Sparta Police Department arrested Grant J. Benson, 38, of Sparta, on the following charge:

-Domestic Battery

Disclaimer: All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.