03-04-94 Campus crime continues decline at Ohio State

                                                3-4-94

CAMPUS CRIME CONTINUES DECLINE AT OHIO STATE

     COLUMBUS -- Crime on the Columbus campus of The Ohio State
University continued to decline in 1993 from near record-high
totals set in 1990.  University Police hope the department's
emphasis on community policing helps to continue the trend.

     Crime in 1993 fell 5 percent below 1992 levels, from 1,888
to 1,790 incidents, as reported for the FBI Uniform Crime Report.

     Crime reached a high of 2,093 incidents in 1990.  In 1991,
it remained nearly constant at 2,047.  However, 1992 saw 1,888
reports; a 9.7 percent decline from 1990 levels.  In 1993, 1,790
total crimes were reported, a 14.5 percent decline from the 1990
high and a 5.2 percentage point decrease over 1992.

     Theft, the biggest crime problem on campus, was reported
1,476 times in 1992 and 1,355 times in 1993.  There also were
decreases in reports of rape, assault, arson and vehicle theft.
There were, however, slight increases in reports of burglary.
For the seventh consecutive year, there were no murders on
campus.

     "Ohio State is the largest campus in the country, located in
one of the largest cities in the country," says University Police
Chief Ron Michalec.

     Although the university is one of the few that reports
crimes to the Department of Education as precisely outlined by
federal law, Michalec says it is difficult to compare safety
risks on various campuses merely by comparing raw numbers.  "We
report the most crimes of any Ohio campus because we have the
most students and because we are located in an urban area,"  says
Michalec.  "We actively encourage people to report crimes or
suspicious activities, which probably adds to our totals."

     "Our crime statistics are down slightly, but crime is
cyclic," says Michalec.  "That's why it is important to continue
developing the relationship between police and the community.  If
we have to fight crime without help from the community, it won't
work."

     Ohio State has instituted several programs to reduce campus
crime.  New, brighter lights and low-growth shrubbery open
previously dark areas.  A student escort service offers walking
escorts or rides home to students on or off campus.  The
university is also a partner in the Community Crime Patrol, which
employs patrollers to make off-campus streets safer.

     Meanwhile, University Police are working to build strong
ties with the community.  Officers ride bicycles and scooters
around campus, making them closer and more accessible to
students.  The new, police-funded Student Security Service
employs students to act as eyes and ears for the police.  These
students assist police by patrolling campus on weekend nights,
looking for crime, safety hazards and potential problems.

                                #

Contact: University Police Chief Ron Michalec, (614) 292-3590.
Written by Amy Murray.

          Ohio State University Police Crime Statistics
                   Calendar Years (1990-1993)
    Totals of reported criminal incidents including attempts.
                                

OFFENSE             1990      1991      1992      1993

Homicide            0         0         0         0

Arson               8         12        11        8

Rape                1         3         6         1

Robbery             8         16        11        11

Assault             73        69        84        71

Burglary            425       422       263       311

Theft               1533      1484      1476      1355

Motor Vehicle Theft 45        41        37        33

TOTAL               2093      2047      1888      1790

1993 totals are 14.5% lower than 1990.
1993 totals are 5.19% lower than 1992.


[Submitted by: STERRETT  (sterrett@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Fri, 04 Mar 1994 13:38:58 -0500 (EST)]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.