Statistics released by the Auraria Campus Police Department for the year 2004 indicate that the campus continues to be one of the safest in Colorado.

The relatively low rate of crime is attributed to several factors; chief among them is the shift toward more community policing initiated three years ago by campus police. Community policing involves cooperation and relationship-building between the police and the Metro State, CCD and CU-Denver community and greater visibility of the police through foot patrols and an increased presence. According to Auraria Campus Police Chief Heather Coogan, "There's no better place than a college campus to implement community policing, with the stability of the faculty and the relationships we've been able to forge."

In a statistical comparison of reported crimes from 2003 and 2004, the rate of most crimes on the Auraria campus went down or stayed the same. No sex offenses were reported for either year. No robberies were reported in 2004, as compared to one in 2003. There was one violation of weapons law in each year. Vandalism rates stayed the same, with 38 incidents reported for each year. Larceny and theft offenses declined from 227 to 195.

Certain categories of crime did increase including vehicle and bicycle impounds and parking and moving citations went up. Motor vehicle thefts also increased from nine to 13, but more stolen vehicles were recovered. The number of citations for driving under the influence jumped from six to 20. "The traffic situation on campus is very much a safety issue, and so it is a focus of ours," says Coogan, adding that the majority of traffic violations, especially drunk driving, are related to traffic from the Pepsi Center coming through campus.

The fact that Auraria is a commuter campus with no on-campus student housing also helps keep the crime rates down. In the Feb. 5 Rocky Mountain News, historian Tom Noel cited the Auraria campus: "Imagine a Colorado campus without riots, rapes and student drinking binges. Imagine no noisy, boozy frat houses, no perks for sports stars posing as students and no athletic department orgies. Colorado has such a campus."

With the coming of dorms next year, adds Coogan, "we will have a whole new set of issues to deal with." But she also points out that, irrespective of housing, Auraria is safe relative to its surroundings. "We sit in the heart of an urban area with a much higher crime rate all around us. We have a great feeling of safety at Auraria."