The recent high-profile, on-Grounds burglaries, incidents near the Corner and the murder of University alumna Jayne McGowan have increased awareness about crime in the University area, prompting student concern and leading University and Charlottesville officials to address the issue.
According to University Police Lieut. Melissa Fielding, the area surrounding the University experiences a heightened level of crime every few years. Although crime this year is not at an alarming level, local police have sought to increase safety by stationing additional officers in off-Grounds areas where crime is of the greatest concern.
The nature of the crime
According to Fielding, though the University Police Department deals with many types of crime, most crimes involving student victims are not committed by fellow students.
Fielding noted that although not every Charlottesville resident is seeking to attack or take advantage of students, members of the University community need to remember they are still vulnerable even when close to Grounds.
"Sometimes students aren't fully aware of their surroundings and often make easy targets for those who want to commit these types of crimes," she said. "Students should be able to come and go without fear of being victimized, but the reality is we are like any other city -- crime occurs here."
According to Matt Schrimper, co-chair of Student Council's Building and Grounds Committee, this reality is vital for students to understand when considering their safety.
"I think students feel really comfortable in the area and are more vulnerable as a result," he said. "These things happen when the will to commit these crimes meet the opportunity."
Which areas are affected?
According to Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo, off-Grounds student housing provides an ideal opportunity for theft and burglary.
"The off-Grounds areas are what I would call target-rich environments," he said. "People are constantly moving in and out, doors are left unlocked -- it's a great chance for people who are looking to steal property."
According to crime statistics from the Charlottesville Police Department, there have been fewer reports of larceny, burglary and breaking and entering in 2007 than 2006, but the total number of assault reports has increased from 59 to 87.
The majority of crime reports in heavily populated student areas have come from Preston Avenue, with 99 reports to the Charlottesville Police last year, Wertland Street with 70 different reports and 14th Street with 61.
In each area of these areas, the majority of crimes were vandalism, destruction of property and larceny. In the City of Charlottesville as a whole, vandalism, larceny from a motor vehicle and simple assault have been the most common crimes this year.
According to Longo, the high density of crime on Wertland Street can be partially attributed to the high density of people and apartments in the area, as well as the close interaction between non-students and students living in the area.
To address crime near and on Wertland Street, Charlottesville and University police have developed a collaborative task force team to patrol the area, particularly on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
According to Longo, the night patrol is a way to respond to the reports of more violent crimes, such as assault, that tend to occur after midnight.
Officers in short supply
Though local police are stepping up efforts to address crime, a shortage of officers in the Charlottesville and University police departments is a possible factor limiting police response to incidents, Fielding said, adding, however, that this situation has not led to an increase in crime.
Charlottesville spokesperson Ric Barrick agreed, noting the Charlottesville Police Department is short eight police officers in its force while emphasizing that the smaller force does not affect the department's ability to fight crime.
Longo echoed Barrick's concern for the dearth of officers, adding that when Capt. Chip Harding retires at the end of the year, the Charlottesville Police Department will have a 17-officer deficit as a result of nine vacancies and eight officers who will still be completing training.
"We have trouble recruiting qualified candidates, so we have worked for more recruitment, and there was a salary increase a few years ago," Barrick said, adding that the shortage has an effect on the number of officers available for investigation because officers are assigned patrol duty before being promoted to investigative work.
"We just don't have the chance right now to move officers along as quickly as we would like to," he added.
According to Charlottesville Police Sgt. Michael Gore, the shortage can also affect the department's response time to emergency calls.
Fielding echoed Gore and Barrick's opinions and stressed that officers with both the University and Charlottesville departments are willing to put in the extra work to compensate, even if that means overtime for some employees.
"We do have vacancies [in the department], but there are vacancies all the time in law enforcement agencies," she said. "You have to become unique in doing more with less."
Cooperation between city and school
Longo said the unique relationship between University Police and Charlottesville Police serves to allay some of the staffing pressure both departments are experiencing.
According to Fielding, members of the Charlottesville community can also work to counteract the shortage.
"It is the shared responsibility of the local government and the community to ensure the safety of students," she said.
According to Schrimper and John Nelson, co-chair of Student Council's Safety and Wellness Committee, the University could be instrumental in helping protect students.
"I think it is important to have a dialogue between the city, the county, the University and students, because in the off-Grounds area everyone needs to work together and the University needs to make a concerted effort to make it happen," Nelson said.
Schrimper and Nelson both emphasized the benefits to expanding programs such as SafeRide and blue light telephones, as well as increasing lighting on and off Grounds.
"We need to develop routes so that students feel comfortable walking to Central Grounds," Schrimper said.
Awareness and prevention
Charlottesville Police, University Police, students and University officials all agree that a part of the solution to crime is the responsibility of the students.
"There are three things that it takes for any crime to be committed -- a victim, an assailant and an opportunity," said Mark Fletcher, chair of the University's Security and General Safety Committee. "We may not be able to control the first two, but we can avoid the last part of the formula if we emphasize awareness."
Fletcher added that students must take responsibility when they come to the University, especially when they decide to live off Grounds.
"You have to have an increased awareness of your surrounding when you live off Grounds because you are more independent and more responsible for your own safety," he said, noting that students need to expand their narrow understanding of crime in the area and make the right decisions, especially at night, to avoid being victims.
Read More
Winsome Earle-Sears talks higher education in first U.Va. event of the campaign
By Ford McCracken | YesterdayA Jamaican immigrant and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Earle-Sears is the first female lieutenant governor of Virginia,
U.Va.'s Earth Day Eco-Fair 2025 spotlights sustainability advocacy
By Leigh Bailey | YesterdayStudents from Contracted Independent Organizations and University Office of Sustainability leadership programs each shared their unique perspectives about sustainability advocacy on Grounds.
Student Council votes to relocate Hereford orchard and basketball hoop
By Lauren Seeliger | YesterdayStudent Council passed a resolution Tuesday to relocate the orchard and basketball hoop of Hereford Residential College due to construction in the surrounding area.
