The ACU Police Department’s annual report of crime statistics showed no significant change in violations over the past year.
ACU Police released the 2009 Annual Clery Crime Statistics and Policies Report last week as required by federal law.
ACU Chief of Police Jimmy Ellison said the Clery Report summarizes university-related crime statistics for the past three years. It covers crimes that occurred on campus or at any non-campus, university-owned or controlled facility and offenses that occurred on public properties immediately adjacent to campus.
“The intent behind Clery is to give students and parents a pretty accurate picture of what’s happening on the campus they choose to attend,” Ellison said.
According to the Clery Report, crime statistics for 2009 were either roughly the same or much lower than in the last two years. The number of burglaries dropped from 16 in 2008 to six in 2009, and there were two fewer liquor law violations in 2009 than in 2008. The number of drug law violations and motor vehicle thefts remained the same from 2008 to 2009 with four and three, respectively.
“Overall I think our numbers are good, year to year, thankfully,” Ellison said. “We have not had any of the headline-grabbing statistics, like murder or manslaughter. No university is ever going tohave all zeros. That’s just not the reality we live in.”
While it can be a helpful tool, the Clery Report does not list all crime statistics on or around campus. Traffic-related incidents and motor vehicle burglaries are noticeably absent because of the strict guidelines stipulated by the Clery law.
Ellison said the ACU Police rely heavily on the public to help prevent crimes.
“Every year we try to do an incredible amount of crime prevention awareness,” Ellison said. “We stress throughout the year to report all suspicious activity you see, because we can’t get an accurate picture of what’s happening on and around campus if things aren’t being reported.”
Ellison said he was proud of the work his officers do daily during the year.
“I think at the end of the year, if you can see a legitimate reduction over a two or three year period, I think that tells you something’s working,” Ellison said.
