MORGANTOWN — The number of alcohol violations, robberies, burglaries and assaults at WVU went down in 2017, but drug arrests and sexual assaults increased from 2016, according to a new report.
WVU released its annual Clery Crime Report on Friday. The annual document is required by federal law and includes crime statistics, procedures and practices used by WVU Police.
“All in all, I feel good about the report,” Chief W. P. Chedester said. WVU was ranked the 34th safest campus by the National Council for Home Safety and Security in 2017.
He attributed the increase in sexual assaults to education and awareness campaign efforts made by the university, the state and across the nation.
“I think people are encouraged to report these kinds of things,” Chedester said. “I think that has something to do with it.”
There were 13 reported on-campus sexual assaults in 2017, an increase of three compared to 2016.
Drug violations increased from 132 on-campus arrests in 2016 to 188 arrests in 2017 and 229 campus referrals, an increase of 95 from 2016.
Campus referrals are handled through the WVU Office of Student Conduct instead of, or in addition to, the criminal justice system.
Chedester said marijuana is the most common drug his officers encounter, but that the department does see other drugs, such as pills and heroin, on occasion.
He said a socially relaxed attitude toward marijuana also led to the increase.
Alcohol violations dropped from 296 arrests and 1,604 campus referrals in 2016 to 273 arrests and 1,375 campus referrals in 2017.
Only one on-campus robbery was reported in 2017, a drop of 66 percent — there were three reported in 2016.
Reported on-campus burglaries decreased from 11 in 2016 to seven in 2017. A total of 39 on-campus simple assaults were reported in 2017 — four less than 2016.
Holding steady were on campus motor vehicle thefts, arson and arrest for possession of a weapon with two, one and one reported.
Crime statistics are compiled almost daily and used to plan patrols, officer presence and education, Chedester said.
“Overall, the focus is the safety of the campus community,” Chedester said.
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