The Department of Public Safety and University Police’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report was released on Oct. 1, detailing crime statistics, safety protocols and resources for students, faculty and staff.
The preface of the 39-page report includes information defining reportable offenses and steps to report as a victim or bystander. Statistical information begins on page 29. The data reflects information for the last three years, as 2022 statistics are incomplete.
Across both campuses, Kennesaw has had the most offenses, citations and arrests. There has been an increase in fondling, robbery and motor vehicle theft. Robbery increased by four reports; both fondling and motor vehicle theft increased by one report. There has been a major decrease in burglaries: down by 15 reports since 2021. Rape also decreased from nine reports to seven. Aggravated assault remained at one report. There were no reports for incest, statutory rape, arson, murder, non-negligent or negligent homicide.
A total of 41 arrests were made on the Kennesaw campus, including citation arrests or physical arrests. Liquor law violations decreased and accounted for seven. Drug violations increased, making up 31 arrests in total. Weapon violations decreased to a total of three this year. Judicial references were more abundant: 141, 154 and 12 for each respective category. Drug violations almost doubled from 77 reports in 2021.
Violence against women was also included in the report. There were three reports of domestic violence, seven of dating violence and four of stalking. Domestic violence decreased, but dating violence and stalking increased.
Marietta’s report shows an increase in rape and aggravated assault from zero to two reports. Fondling was the inverse, two to zero. Burglary also decreased from three reports to one. There were no reports of incest, statutory rape, robbery, motor vehicle theft or arson.
As for arrests, there were four total: three liquor law violations and one weapons violation. Both increased from zero reports last year. However, drug violations decreased from three to zero. There was an increase for all judicial referrals. Liquor law violations increased from 17 to 37, drug violations increased by three to 25 total referrals. Weapon violations accounted for one, an increase from zero. There were no reports of violence against women across both years.
No hate crimes were reported for 2019, 2020 or 2021.
There were two fire reports on the Kennesaw campus in 2021. At KSU Place in Building 400, a stove-top grease fire resulted in $12,818.68 worth of damages. In Building C of KSU Place, a cardboard pizza box on fire caused smoke damage, but no property damage. Three reports were filed for Marietta; two had no property damage costs. The first was a grease fire in University Commons, Building 200. The second was a melted contained in a microwave in Hornet Village 100. House 1 of University Commons, however, had a couch cushion fall onto a stove which resulted in $500 of damage.
As for reporting a crime, there are many protocols outlined by the report. On campus, dial extension 6666. For off-campus reports, call 478-578-6666. The University Police can also be reached by email (police@kennesaw.edu). There are emergency phones located on the Kennesaw Campus and Emergency Call boxes located on the Marietta Campus.
Students, faculty and staff also have access to a free mobile app called LiveSafe to communicate with KSU officials about various issues like suspicious activity and mental health. There are also features like Live Chat and SafeWalk that friends or family can use to walk the person using the app to their destination virtually.
This report also contains numbers and emails to campus resources like the psychological services and the women’s resource center.
Helpful advice about being an active bystander to sexual and relationship violence is included in this report. There is also a list for risk reduction for crimes like sexual violence and safety in social settings. It gives helpful advice like how to make a plan, protect your drink and how to decline drinks from people you don’t know or trust.
The report is released annually on Oct. 1 in accordance with the Clery Act. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the Clery Act makes it mandatory for all universities to release information about criminal activities that happen on or near campus to create transparency for safety.
More information can be found on the website of KSU’s Department of Public Safety and University Police.
