The Mesa Community College police department’s mission — “Support the educational mission of the Maricopa Community College District by providing professional, community-oriented services to ensure a safe and secure campus for our students, faculty, staff and visitors” — plays a large role with keeping crime rates low, MCC Police Cmdr. Sonny Hudson said.
Clery Act Report
Crime down on Mesa Community College campuses
Posted
Generally speaking, working with the community, maintaining open communication with all stakeholders and performing quality police work, the crime rate will fall. Our department realizes that engaging the campus community, being vigilant and maintaining high visibility are important factors in deterring crime.”
There was one crime reported in 2022 — compared to two in 2021 and 10 in 2020 — at two Mesa Community College campuses and a downtown center in the Maricopa County Community College District, according to a federally mandated campus-security report released in September.
There was also a drug arrest in 2022 and two alcohol referrals in 2020, according to the report.
Staying in contact with the campus community, quality police work and being vigilant contributed to the fewer crimes in this latest report, Mesa Community College Police Cmdr. Sonny Hudson said.
“Generally speaking, working with the community, maintaining open communication with all stakeholders and performing quality police work, the crime rate will fall. Our department realizes that engaging the campus community, being vigilant and maintaining high visibility are important factors in deterring crime,” he said.
The MCC police department’s mission — “Support the educational mission of the Maricopa Community College District by providing professional, community-oriented services to ensure a safe and secure campus for our students, faculty, staff and visitors” — plays a large role with keeping crime rates low, Hudson said.
“The department has a vision as well, and when both are followed, the odds of decreasing crime increase,” he said.
Partnerships with other law-enforcement agencies help the campuses remain crime-free.
“The Southern and Dobson officers work frequently with the Mesa Police Department. At times, officers respond together on the same incident and work together to solve issues. A good working relationship has been established due to increased communication between agencies, crime reduction efforts and a common goal of protecting the campus and surrounding areas,” Cmdr. Hudson said.
There were 15,004 students at Mesa Community College in fall 2022, 16,494 students in fall 2021 and 16,948 students in fall 2020, according to 45th-day headcounts in each of those years, MCC said.
Statistics must be reported
The Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, renamed The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Crime Statistics Act, was enacted by Congress and signed into law in November 1990. In 1992, 2000, 2008 and 2013, Congress amended the law via the Higher Education Opportunity and Violence Against Women acts, which expanded the reporting criteria.
Jeanne Clery was 19 when she was raped and murdered in her college dormitory. Her parents, Connie and Howard Clery, could not have known the danger she was in; standards for campus crime reporting did not exist in 1986, according to clerycenter.org, the website for the nonprofit Clery Center.
“The Clery Act requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to disseminate a public annual security report to employees and students every Oct. 1. This ASR must include statistics of campus crime for the preceding three calendar years, plus details about efforts taken to improve campus safety,” according to the website.
Crimes that are required to be listed by the colleges are, according to the report:
Murder/non-negligent manslaughter;
Negligent manslaughter;
Rape;
Fondling;
Incest;
Statutory rape;
Robbery;
Aggravated assault;
Burglary;
Motor vehicle theft;
Arson;
Domestic violence;
Dating violence;
• Stalking.
It also includes crimes handled by local police, such as liquor, drug and weapon violations; and hate crimes.
In 2022 there was one stalking incident on campus at Mesa Community College’s main campus, 1833 W. Southern Ave. in Mesa.
Special to Independent Newsmedia, Arianna Grainey
In 2022 there was one stalking incident on campus at Mesa Community College’s main campus, 1833 W. Southern Ave. in Mesa, according to the report.
In 2021 there was one domestic violence incident on campus; and in 2020 there were four motor vehicle thefts on campus.
Under arrests and disciplinary referrals, in 2022 there was one drug arrest on campus; in 2021 there were none; and in 2020 there were two alcohol referrals.
MCC police officers are trained in how to recognize domestic violence and stalking situations, Hudson said.
“By actively engaging with the campus community, we can educate members that any employee, who is associated with campus safety, can be approached by anyone who is dealing with a domestic violence or stalking situation. Officers are well trained on how to recognize domestic violence and stalking situations and know the process on how to stop and eliminate the acts from occurring. Many resources are available for victims of domestic violence and stalking and officers are willing to help victims get in touch with those resources,” he said.
Reports of drug and alcohol use are investigated, Hudson said.
“The police department takes immediate enforcement action on all reports of drug and alcohol in and around campus. This means that violators will be contacted by sworn officers and action, that is appropriate for the situation, will be taken. This action may also include providing resources for the violator, who is willing to accept help,” he said.
No crimes were determined to be unfounded and no hate crimes were reported for all three years.
The MCCCD Police Department office is on the west side of the SC building (building 14), on the southwest side of the campus, according to the Clery report.
Red Mountain campus
In 2022 there were no crimes reported at the Red Mountain Campus, 7110 E. McKellips Road in Mesa.
Special to Independent Newsmedia, Arianna Grainey
In 2022 there were no crimes reported at the Red Mountain Campus, 7110 E. McKellips Road in Mesa.
In 2021 there were no crimes reported; and in 2020 there were two motor vehicle thefts on campus plus one on nearby public property.
There were no arrests or disciplinary referrals in any of the years. Also, in all three years, no crimes were determined to be unfounded and no hate crimes were reported.
The MCCCD Police Department office at Red Mountain is in the Ironwood building, according to the Clery report.
Downtown Center
There were no crimes in 2022 at the Downtown Center, 145 N. Centennial Way in Mesa.
One robbery on non-campus property was reported in 2021; and two aggravated assaults on campus and a motor vehicle theft on nearby public property were reported in 2020.
There were no arrests or disciplinary referrals in 2022, 2021 or 2020. Also, in all three years, no crimes were determined to be unfounded and no hate crimes were reported.
The MCCCD Police Department office at the Downtown Center is on the fourth floor, according to the Clery report.
Campus outreach
Information is disseminated regularly at Mesa Community College on crime prevention and to encourage crime reporting.
“Each week, information is sent via email in the form of a bulletin to members of the campus community. The bulletin contains safety information as well as reminders on how to report crime and non-emergencies as well as information on what to do during an active threat,” Hudson said.
“Public safety videos are frequently updated and posted on the MCC campus website. These videos include what to do when an active threat is occurring and everyday safety tips. Public safety also offers in-person or virtual safety classes, taught by sworn officers, to any staff or faculty member that requests it.”
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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