Oct. 1, 2018

UA Police Department Releases 2018 Campus Safety Report

TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Arizona has released the 2018 Campus Safety, Security and Fire Report, which conveys details about personal and property crimes on campus and other property controlled by the university during the years 2015-2017.

There was one death reported on university-owned property that was classified as a murder/non-negligent manslaughter. The August 2017 death resulted from a fight between a driver and pedestrian that started at the intersection of South Kolb and East Science Park roads in southeast Tucson, 13 miles from main campus. The encounter ended with the driver shooting the pedestrian once. The pedestrian, Thomas Dickinson, was found by Tucson police officers on nearby university property and pronounced dead shortly after.

Aggravated assault was up three from seven in 2017 and reported sex offenses-rape were 22, down from 24 in 2016. Burglary was 64 in 2017, up from 45 in 2016 and robbery was four in 2017, up one from the year before. Hate crimes went to five from four in 2016, including incidents involving racial, religious and sexual orientation biases.

Safety is a priority for the 60,000 people who frequent campus on a daily basis, according to UAPD Chief Brian Seastone.

"We publicize our crime reports each year so students, employees and visitors know exactly how safe campus is and the numerous ways they can keep themselves and others safe by reporting crimes or suspicious activity," Seastone said. "The best crime prevention begins with 'If you see something, say something.'"

The UA's LiveSafe app lets students and employees report crimes via phone or text, or to alert UAPD to situations or people they think could be dangerous. They also can call the UA's Safe Ride service to get a ride home or use the app to have friends track their movements online.

The department also is required to collect data on gender and relationship violence. Reports of dating violence dropped to two in 2017 from 10 in 2016. Reports of stalking increased from two to four in 2017 and domestic violence, which includes incidents between dormitory roommates, went from 20 to 19 in 2017.

Liquor law violations resulting in disciplinary actions were down to 472 in 2017 from 763 in 2016 and liquor law violations went from 168 to 155 in 2017.

Dean of Students Kendal Washington White says her office has found education and diversion activities have helped reduce the number of dangerous drinking incidents.

"College often is the first taste of full independence many students have and we've found education and prevention leads to better decisions than punishment alone," White said.

This is the third year for UAPD's Good Samaritan policy, which encourages students to call for medical help for intoxicated peers without fear of incurring criminal charges.

In accordance with U.S. Department of Education requirements, UA South, UA Phoenix and UA Main Campus are split into separate reports. There was one report of burglary for UA South in 2017 and UA Phoenix reported one assault, four burglaries and two stolen vehicles in 2017, up from none in 2016.

The report is a federal requirement under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, which mandates that all American universities receiving federal funds must publicize their policies covering campus law enforcement, means of reporting crimes and statistics for reports of criminal offenses by Oct. 1. The 2018 report can be found on the UAPD website.

Pam Scott
University Communications
University of Arizona
520-621-1951
pscott@arizona.edu