University releases Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

By Jesse Zapata

On Monday the GW Office of Safety and Security and University Police Department issued the 2012 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

The report has information on the crime statistics of the university's  last three calendar years, including crimes on public property next to or within campus property. Also included is information on personal safety, crime prevention, fire safety, law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures, and more. The report also contains useful information about crime log availability and emergency procedures.

In comparison to last year, the report also offers insight into trends in crimes on campus. Noticeable trends in serious crime include a jump in aggravated assault cases, 4 in 2011, up from none the year before. For petty crimes, Forcible Burglary on the Foggy Bottom Campus has had a drastic decline, with 6 cases reported this year, down from 53. There was also a slight decline in larceny and vandalism.

Negative trends include the Mount Vernon Campus reporting a rise in larceny with instances nearly doubling from 2010 to 23. Also prominent was the fact that the Foggy Bottom Campus last year reported 3 Hate Crimes, a contrast to 2008, when there were none.

The document revealed updates to policy and wording. For example, a new emphasis was put on the use of texting as a way of alerting the universities staff and students of serious crimes on campus. 

Residence Directors also found a new role in University Policy, being given the ability to enforce security measures as well as report on instances of crimes. There has also been substantial rewording of the Policy on Notification on Serious Threats. The Policy has been updated for use of GW Alert, Facebook, and Twitter in notifying the campus, left out from last year's policy is mention of the 4-Ride PA system.