2022 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report released

Report details the crime statistics for the 2021 calendar year

LUCAS HODSON / ASST. NEWS EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

(TW: mentions of sexual assault and crime)

The University of San Diego’s Department of Public Safety just released the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which includes the crime statistics for the 2021 calendar year. 

The report consists of ways to report crimes and other emergencies, such as emergency phones, information on where to report the crimes and voluntary, confidential reporting. It also contains information on the Department of Public Safety, statistics on all reported crimes on and off campus that happen to USD students and provides information for students to stay safe. 

During the 2021 year, from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, there were reports of seven rapes, five fondlings, four aggravated assaults, eight burglaries, three motor vehicle thefts, six accounts of dating violence and five stalkings. During the Associated Student Government (ASG) meeting on Sept. 29, Clery Act and Appliance Manager Magali Perez, who is in charge of providing the campus with the Security Report, talked about what the report means and how to interpret the statistics. 

Perez explained that the numbers are based on reports or allegations of crimes to the Public Safety Department or the San Diego Police Department and that it is essential because they get to connect to the victim and make sure they get the help that they need.

Since the statistics are based on reported crimes, students are encouraged to report all crimes they witness or are involved in for an accurate annual report. 

Assistant Vice President for Public Safety, Chief James Miyashiro, explained how the statistics help the Public Safety Department create new safety measures. 

“We use those stats as a resource to develop all types of different crime prevention programs,” Chief Miyashiro said. “Another way to keep the campus safe is by being a good witness. If they see something that does not belong on campus whether it is a person, a vehicle or even an animal they should report it.”

Chief Miyashiro also addressed the safety around the students who were attacked on Mildred and Goshen St.

“There are a few things that I recommend students do. If they are going to be off campus and they are going to be drinking, or they are at a party and they feel uncomfortable, call Public Safety,” Chief Miyashiro said. 

These recommendations do not only apply to the attack earlier in the semester on Mildred and Goshen St. Students are encouraged to make conscious decisions about their safety.  

Chief Miyashiro emphasized the safety of USD’s campus, listing the precautions Public Safety takes for students’ security. This includes license plate readers at every entrance to the school, a camera system that covers all of the parking lots and almost all of the public areas on campus, emergency phones all over campus and 24/7 Public Safety officers patrolling the campus.

Although San Diego State’s (SDSU) student population is larger than USD, the university is also in San Diego county. SDSU provides statistics in their Annual Security & Fire Safety Report. The stats that stick out for the 2021 calendar year at SDSU consist of 14 rapes, 42 burglaries, 13 fondlings and 12 motor vehicle thefts. SDSU has a student population of 33,778 compared to USD, which has a population of 8,251. 

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) can also be compared to USD in approximate location. Over 2021, their report had four fondlings, one burglary and five motor vehicle thefts. For every other crime listed, there were zero reports. Point Loma has a student population of 3,174. 

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is another school comparable in size (7,127 students) and institution. Their report covering 2021 included five rapes, four fondlings, one burglary and five motor vehicle thefts.

While comparing facts may contextualize USD’s stats, Chief Miyashiro points out the comparisons are not equivalent. 

“I do not think comparing schools is fair, especially because we are different sizes and in different locations,” Chief Miyashiro said. 

“We’ve always been fairly consistent. The only oddball year we have ever had was 2020, but that was because nobody was on campus.”

Public Safety could not comment on the 2022 crime rate because the numbers do not get reported until the end of the calendar year. 

After seeing the crime report, USD junior John Gilly was surprised.

“I feel safe on this campus, but I think that Public Safety can increase presence on campus to increase safety,” Gilly explained “I never see them on campus, and when I do see them, I assume that there is a problem. I would have guessed that we had much higher numbers.”

USD sophomore Giovanni Iovino acknowledges and recognizes Public Safety’s presence.

 “I feel very safe, especially when I see the patrol cars around,” Iovino said. 

If students witness crimes on or off campus, they can report the crimes to https://www.sandiego.edu/safety/incident-reporting.php directly to the San Diego Police department.