Campus crime remained steady this semester with 57 reported criminal incidents

On Jan. 12, students entered the new semester with a bomb threat that left many of the University’s facilities, and facilities in universities across the country, closed. While an extraordinary incident to usher in the semester, Murray State’s crime rate has stayed consistent over the past few semesters. Over the last semester, Murray State has seen 57 reported criminal incidents ranging from theft, assault and vehicle accidents.

“The Murray State University Police Department continually reviews incidents recorded in our public crime log to monitor trends and guide patrol, prevention, and outreach efforts,” Murray State’s Police Department said in a statement. “Based on incidents reported between January and mid-April, the number and types of reports this semester are generally consistent with the same timeframe last year, with typical semester-to-semester fluctuations.”

The majority of these incidents, the department said, were low-level violations, including theft and vehicle accidents. This semester, there were 20 reported thefts and nine vehicular accidents, according to the Murray State Crime Log. Alcohol and drug incidents were the second most common, at 11 reported incidents.

The University’s 57 reported criminal incidents this semester are a decline from the 80 incidents reported in the fall. The majority of reported incidents in the fall were theft and vehicle-related, with 22 reported thefts and 11 vehicle accidents.

The fall semester also saw more cases of harassment and assault overall, with 15 reported incidents compared to only seven in the spring. These cases range from verbal harassment to physical assault. October also saw a string of four sexual extortion reports, consisting of an individual threatening the release of explicit photos in exchange for bitcoin and other payments. These cases are currently suspended pending other evidence.

The Murray State Police Department maintains that incidents of violent crime on campus are rare and typically involve individuals who know each other, not random acts of violence. The department said it continues to serve students and keep the campus community safe.

“While no campus is completely immune from incidents, Murray State continues to be a very safe campus,” the statement read. “Our officers remain proactive in patrol, prevention, and community engagement, and we work closely with students, faculty and staff to maintain a strong culture of safety across campus.”

The department directed students to a variety of sources to protect themselves from crime. This includes the LiveSafe app, which lets students request safety escorts across campus if they feel unsafe. Students are also encouraged to register their bikes in the event of theft, and keep up to date on emergency alerts through the Racer Alert emergency system

The Murray State Police also asks students to remain aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity when it occurs. For more information on Murray State’s safety resources, you can view visit the Murray State Police Department website.