The incidence of the most serious crimes at the University of California, Davis, campus and its medical center in Sacramento did not change from 2000, as measured by the FBI Crime Index in an annual report of crimes at UC campuses.

In 2001, the number of the most serious violent crimes -- homicide, rape, attempted rape, robbery and aggravated assault -- stayed the same, at eight. Burglary increased by 46 percent. As in 2000, there were no homicides.

Incidents of 20 other offenses -- from simple assault to trespass and public drunkenness -- increased by 27 percent, from 404 in 2000 to 515 in 2001.

The vast majority of those arrested in all incidents had no affiliation to UC Davis.

"Our efforts this past year to maintain a safe environment continued to be largely based on promoting awareness about crime and crime prevention throughout the campus community, and responding quickly to incidents when they do occur," said Calvin Handy, chief of the UC Davis Police Department. "Building cooperative relationships broadly in the community helps us to better protect life and property while reinforcing the notion that reducing crime is everybody's business."

Crimes at the campus and medical center reported to police are counted according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, used by law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The FBI Crime Index tallies incidents of the eight most serious violent crimes and property crimes.

 

VIOLENT CRIMES

According to the FBI reporting program, violent crime represented less than 1 percent of all crimes reported at UC Davis.

The eight incidents of violent crime included two rapes, one attempted rape, three robberies and two aggravated assaults.

* One rape was reported on campus along with one attempted rape, one robbery and one aggravated assault.

* Two robberies occurred at the medical center in Sacramento along with one rape and one aggravated assault.

The aggravated assault on campus occurred in the resident housing area. In this assault the victim was struck with an open hand on the side of the head. The victim sustained a perforated eardrum. The victim requested no prosecution.

 

PROPERTY CRIMES

* Burglary: Burglaries went from 59 reported in 2000 to 86 in 2001, up 27. The majority of burglaries that occurred were non-force with possible key entries. "We attribute some of the increase to our continuing efforts to encourage crime reporting to police," said Handy.

* Motor vehicle theft: The number of motor vehicle thefts decreased from 37 to 25.

* Larceny: Bicycle theft increased from 252 in 2000 to 316 in 2001. Other thefts increased slightly from 404 in 2000 to 408 in 2001. Stereos, CDs and cellular phones were the most commonly taken items. Entry was most often made by breaking windows and punching out vehicle locks.

The value of property stolen decreased from $570,288 in 2000 to $442,289 in 2001. Of the $116,739 in university property stolen in 2001, police recovered $2,768. Of the $325,550 in other property stolen in 2001, police recovered $116,850.

* Arson: In the seven arsons in 2001, approximately $2,500 in property loss was reported.

 

OTHER

Arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increased from 24 to 58. Eleven of those arrests were made in Davis.

Two police officers were assaulted; one incident was at the medical center and one on the Davis campus.

 

UNIVERSITY AFFILIATION

For all criminal offenses committed during 2001, UC Davis police officers arrested 241 people. Of the 14 arrested for the nine most serious violent and property crimes, five were affiliated with the main campus or medical center as a student or employee. Of the 227 arrested for other offenses, only 16 were affiliated with the university.

 

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Other highlights of the police department's activities in 2001 include the following:

* Campus Violence Prevention Program: This unit provides education and outreach about the realities of sexual violence, hate- or bias-related activity and relationship violence, focusing on prevention through education. The program's primary mission is to eliminate these forms of violence and, in the interim, to ensure that support services are available for survivors. This specialized police department unit provides workshops, classes and counseling.

* Community Oriented Policing Philosophy: Officers continue the Adopt-A-Building and Park, Walk and Talk Programs, along with supporting a proactive patrol effort and aggressive enforcement efforts. This year new security systems, and safety and security procedures and processes were initiated on campus and at the medical center.

* Anti-terrorism activities: Before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America, the UC Davis Police Department directed campus efforts to prevent eco-terrorism. After Sept. 11, the department took the lead in planning for campus security and response to broader acts of domestic terrorism. The department remains today on a heightened state of alert, and continues to lead the evaluation of campus vulnerabilities and to ensure campus security.

* Video Unit: In 2001, this unit prepared a Peace Officer's Standards and Training module for all Yolo County law enforcement agencies. Topics included crowd control, sexual assault, child abuse and media relations.

* Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force: In 2001 UC Davis police continued to work with the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, which is managed by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. More than 22 state, federal and local agencies participate. A UC Davis detective dedicated 20 percent of work time to training and investigations of various aspects of computer crime.

* Administration Division: The department continues to improve efficiency and increase communication among various units within the department. In its first year, the new Outreach Bureau coordinated efforts of the Crime Prevention, Campus Violence Prevention, training and video units with all other outreach programs.

* Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies: The police department is participating in the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) that will establish a foundation of best practices and standards to improve management procedures and improve community cooperation and coordination. The overall purpose of the Commission's accreditation program is to improve delivery of law enforcement service by offering a body of standards, developed by law enforcement practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date law enforcement topics. It recognizes professional achievements by offering an orderly process for addressing and complying with applicable standards. The primary benefits of accreditation include controlled liability insurance costs, administrative improvements, greater accountability from supervisors and increased governmental and community support.

 

CLERY STATISTICS

In the fall, UC Davis also publishes statistics according to the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

Reporting requirements differ from those specified by the FBI reporting system. It includes not only crimes reported to or known to police, but also those incidents reported to other campus officials with significant responsibility for campus and security activities such as coaches, academic advisers and advocates providing services to sexual assault victims.

In addition to incidents occurring on campus, the report will include those taking place on public property adjacent to and easily accessible from campus and on property owned or controlled by recognized student groups such as fraternities and sororities. The report also covers disciplinary referrals for liquor, drug and weapons violations.