Crime down at most East Texas colleges - Longview News-Journal

LeTourneau University doesn't see a lot of major crime, campus Police Chief Michael Schultz says. The school's biggest crime-related issue is petty theft — people taking easily grabbed items.

And because the campus itself is relatively small, the full- and part-time officers patrolling 24/7 are more effective.

"One officer's able to make numerous rounds on campus to keep this community safe," Schultz said. "So I think that helps a lot."

It's like that at other area campuses, too. Crime is down at most Longview-area public and private colleges, with schools reporting decreases in major crimes such as rape and burglary over the past three years, according to data made public under the Clery Act. The act is a federal law that requires any college or university receiving federal funds to release information about campus security and crime each year.

Colleges must submit data for criminal offenses — homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson — as well as hate crimes, violence against women offenses, and arrests and referrals for disciplinary action for weapons, drugs and alcohol. The reports go to the U.S. Department of Education.

They also are required to include policy statements regarding crime reporting, campus security and measures concerning prevention and response to sexual assault.

This year, most East Texas colleges' reports showed campus crime declined in 2016.

LeTourneau University

LeTourneau reported no major crimes, violence against women or weapons offenses. The school saw three drug abuse violations and one liquor law violation in 2016. The lack of crime is typical for LeTourneau, Schultz said.

But even as it doesn't see a lot of crime, Schultz says his department works to combat the offenses they do see, like petty theft. He recently was host to a chapel session to discuss safety.

"I talked to the students about locking their bikes up and things like that," Schultz said. "I've received some responses back, asking for the best locks to purchase and things, so the message got across. I'm hoping we don't have as many of those thefts coming up."

This is the first year LeTourneau has 24/7 law enforcement coverage, Schultz noted. It now has two full-time officers and seven part-time officers who patrol the campus, along with a small group of student guards. LeTourneau PD also works with Longview police and the Gregg County Sheriff's Office, Schultz said.

Kilgore College

Kilgore College's main campus had several criminal incidents in 2016, but for the most part they were fewer in number than in previous years. Three burglaries were reported, down from 10 in 2015. One fondling case was reported.

Rape cases, numbering three in 2015, were down to zero in 2016. So too were alcohol and drug arrests.

The college reported one domestic violence case, one dating violence case and two stalking cases.

Kilgore College Police Department Chief Heath Cariker attributed the declines to several factors, including a change in student population.

"College campus crime rates often show fluctuations because their campus community members change so frequently," he said. "Reportable crimes are typically low on campuses, however you can introduce one or two campus community members that can spike a category. Once they leave campus the rate will go flat."

An increase in domestic violence-related incidents is because there has been more education around the issue, Cariker said.

"When the campus community understands that these incidents are a criminal violation, a violation of the student code of conduct, and a violation of U.S. Title IX, they understand that they have a right to report these incidents and have them adjudicated administratively and/or criminally," he said. "When people understand that the college wants to help them in their time of need, they will come forward."

The school has also worked on several crime prevention programs, including working with Gregg County MADD and discussing the importance of securing dorm rooms and vehicles with students, Cariker said.

University of Texas at Tyler

The University of Texas at Tyler reported three sexual assaults reported to campus officials, and a decrease in burglaries and alcohol-related arrests.

UT Tyler Police Chief Mike Medders said although no sexual assaults were reported directly to police in 2016, the department received the data through the Title IX office and other campus officials. Medders has said the reports are often from victims who do not want to come forward or formally file charges.

Alcohol-related arrests were down, but Medders said the difference could be attributed to a single party.

"Generally, the reason alcohol violations may vary significantly from year to year is the absence, or prevalence, of a large party or two during the year," Medders said. "For example, if we respond to a gathering where there are 20 minors present, and they are all found to be in violation, that counts as 20 violations. In other words, we count by the violator, not the incident."

For the second year in a row, burglaries continued to trend downward. Five were reported in 2016, down from eight in 2015 and 15 in 2014.

Medders attributed the decline to cooperation of students and resident assistants. Medders said students are taking more personal responsibility for ensuring their rooms are locked and their personal items are secure and the RAs are more diligent about reporting suspicious persons and activity.

Incidents of stalking, dating violence and domestic violence also were down. In 2015 the campus saw five instances of domestic violence, two of dating violence and three reports of stalking compared with two reports of domestic violence and one each of dating violence and stalking in 2016. One case of stalking was determined to be unfounded.

Tyler Junior College

Tyler Junior College saw an increase in crime last year. All eight reported aggravated assaults were related to gun incidents on campus between September and November 2016. Six of the eight listed aggravated assaults stem from an incident in which a non-student brandished a BB gun. Campus Police Chief Randy Melton said each victim was included as a separate count. Another was from a September incident where a shot was fired into an air conditioner and the last was reported when a student pulled a knife during a verbal altercation. In 2015, only one aggravated assault was listed.

The campus also listed two robberies and six burglaries, compared with no robberies and four burglaries the year before.

The report also included one incident classified as a hate crime. Melton said it was an incident between a resident assistant and a student in which the student was using racially charged language toward the RA.

Four incidents of intimidation, up from zero the prior year, were reported in 2016, including one in which a contract employee said she was assaulted by a fellow employee on campus.

East Texas Baptist University

East Texas Baptist University reported 11 burglaries on campus in 2016, up from nine reported cases in 2015 but down from 16 reported in 2014. The school also reported one domestic violence case and five drug-related arrests.

The highest number was for alcohol-related disciplinary referrals: on-campus referrals stood at 19 in 2016, down from seven in 2015 and 13 in 2014. There were relatively fewer drug-related referrals, with four reported in 2016 compared with 17 in 2015 and 7 in 2014.

Wiley College

Wiley College reported two forcible sexual assaults in 2016, as well as three burglaries and one stalking case. The only other categories that saw any incidents were alcohol-related arrests and referrals — two each — and drug-related referrals with three cases.

In introducing the annual security report, Chief of Security Jon Charvis wrote safety was paramount to the school.

"We aim to always provide the highest level of customer service to meet your needs," he wrote. "Our mission is to strive to provide excellent security services to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to our beautiful campus. The Campus Security Report is published each year to provide information relative to crime statistics as well as preventive measures to ensure one's overall safety. I encourage you to utilize this guide as a resource, and to contact Campus Security whenever the need arises."

Panola College

Panola College reported no major crimes, hate crimes or domestic-violence-related crimes. The college reported two drug-related disciplinary referrals and one drug-related arrest, as well as 10 alcohol-related disciplinary referrals and arrests.

That was down from three drug-related referrals and arrests in 2015 and nine in 2014, as well as 20 alcohol-related cases in 2015 and 27 in 2014.

"Panola College works hard to ensure that we maintain our safe and secure environment," President Greg Powell said. "Security cameras are in place throughout our campus and the College Police Department does a wonderful job."

Jarvis Christian College

The college reported two domestic violence cases in student housing, one drug-related arrest, one weapons-related referral and three drug-related referrals. The only major crime reported was one burglary in student housing, which was a decrease from the two reported in 2015 and 14 in 2014.

— The Tyler Morning Telegraph contributed.

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