Murray State’s recently available Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report for 2024 with Crime Data for Calendar Year 2023 showed no significant increase or decrease in overall crime levels.
The report included statistics for reported crimes that occurred on campus, on property owned or controlled by the University and on public property easily accessible from campus. The report also included information about fire safety systems and statistics for fires in on-campus student housing facilities.
Sharing access to the Annual Security and Fire Report is required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), the Michael Minger Act and the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act.
For 2023 on the main campus, the report recorded the following in concerns to fire safety:
- 2 fires in residential halls
- 1 in Franklin: 09/17/23 (Accidental stove fire)
- 1 in Richmond: 10/10/23 (Accidental oven fire due to paper towel)
- Each residence hall had four fire drills for the academic school year
For 2023 on the main campus, the report recorded the following in concerns to crime and campus safety:
- 0 reports of murder/non-negligent manslaughter
- 0 reports of manslaughter by negligence
- 0 reports of incest
- 0 reports of statutory rape
- 0 reports of robbery
- 0 reports of arson
- 0 reports of domestic violence
- 0 arrests for weapons law violations
- 0 arrests for liquor law violations
- 1 on-campus account of dating violence
- 1 disciplinary referral for weapons law violations (on campus)
- 2 disciplinary referrals for drug law violations (on campus)
- 2 incidents of aggravated assault (1 on campus, 1 on public property)
- 2 on-campus incidents of burglary
- 3 on-campus cases of fondling
- 3 on-campus incidents of motor vehicle theft
- 3 reported on-campus cases of stalking
- 5 arrests for drug law violations (2 on campus, 1 off campus, 2 on public property)
- 7 reported rapes (6 on campus, 1 in non-campus areas)
- 22 disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations (21 on campus, 1 on public property)
The report reveals small changes in crime from 2022, with a small decrease in stalking and a small increase in rapes, arrests for drug law violaions and disciplinary referals for liquor law violations.
Tessa Bradley, senior communications disorder major who lives on campus, said one of the statistics that stood out to her was the increase in on-campus incidents of motor vehicle theft. There were zero in 2022, but three in 2023.
“That’s really surprising because I haven’t really heard anything about it. That seems like a really big deal,” Bradley said. “You’d think that if this was a concern, we’d be hearing more information or reminders to make sure you’re locking your car. It doesn’t really make me worried that my car is going to get stolen–three thefts out of the entire student population isn’t that many.”
Sophomore creative writing major Emily Nolan, who uses they/them pronouns and lives on campus, said they feel similarly about the crime report data.
“Despite the increase in crime in the past year, I’m not particularly worried,” Nolan said, “The campus safety team is really on top of things.”
Murray State’s Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication spoke with Murray State Police Chief Ryan Orr to discuss the report. They said that both the University and the Murray State Police Department strive to keep campus safety a top priority.
“The Murray State Police implements proactive strategies, such as increased patrols and educational initiatives to help prevent incidents while working to ensure a safe environment for our students, faculty and staff,” a statement from the University’s Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication said . “We recently received a $1.1 million grant that will assist the Murray State Police Department with communications and surveillance technologies to continue to serve the campus community.”
Sadie Boggs, a senior English education major who lives on campus, said the University’s efforts at making campus safe have made her feel comfortable on campus.
“I don’t like some of the higher numbers on the list–you don’t realize how much is going on until you see it written down like that,” Boggs said. “But I feel pretty safe on campus, and I think these numbers are low, especially compared to other universities. I feel like I can walk around campus safely anytime, and the dorm security is really good. The report really doesn’t change that.”
According to recent safety rankings from Niche, Murray State is the 15th safest college campus in Kentucky out of 23, putting it in the bottom 50%.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of campus resources to help keep them safe on campus.
“If they haven’t done so already, we would encourage individuals to download LiveSafe, which is a free mobile app made available by the Murray State Police Department,” a statement from the University’s Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication said. “The app helps people stay safe by providing tools to communicate safety concerns, connect with emergency responders and receive safety information.”
Faculty, staff and students are also encouraged to make sure their cell phone number listed in myGate is up to date to ensure they receive RacerAlert text messages. Family members can also opt-in to receive messages and can get more information at murraystate.edu/raceralert.
The fire and safety report can be read here. Along with crime and safety statistics, the report includes institutional policies concerning campus security, including policies on sexual assault, procedures for crime reporting and disciplinary procedures.
To get a printed copy of this report, contact the Murray State Police Department at 270-809-2222 or visit the police department at 1511 Chestnut St.
