HUNSTVILLE, Ala.—A recent investigation conducted by an Alabama television station suggests that the University of Alabama, Huntsville (UAH) may be covering up major crimes on campus, a violation of Clery Act requirements.
In its report, WHNT News 19 claims that UAH Campus Police often omit major crimes on a public crime log in order to make the campus appear safer. One anonymous whistleblower told the news station that officers are forced to downplay the severity of a reported offense, and if officers don’t comply, there would be consequences. For example, incidents that are labeled as burglaries in an officer’s report sometimes are only listed as theft or property cases on the daily crime log.
The Clery Act requires universities and colleges that participate in federal funding to report specific crimes ranging from homicide, burglary and motor vehicle theft. Additionally, campuses are to publish an annual report of crime statistics.
UAH Police Chief Chuck Gailes denies any wrongdoing.
S. Daniel Carter for Security On Campus, the non-profit organization behind the Clery Act, plans to bring the investigation results to the Department of Education and request a review of the UAH Police Department.
The investigation is in the wake of the Feb. 12 shooting at the university, where a UAH professor shot and killed three employees and wounded three others.
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