KU Lawrence and Med Center chiefs report crime trends, staffing and Clery improvements to Regents committee

Chiefs and public‑safety leaders from the University of Kansas gave the Board of Regents Governance Committee an update on campus safety programs, reporting crime statistics, staffing levels, recent security projects and steps to strengthen Clery Act compliance.

Lawrence campus: Chief Nelson Mosley (KUPD Lawrence) told the committee that in 2024 his unit responded to roughly 3,600 calls for service, filed about 1,079 incident/accident reports and recorded about 481 criminal offenses. Mosley listed the top five crimes as criminal damage to property, theft, vehicle burglaries, assault and fraud. He said extra patrol requests rose (4,142 patrols in 2024) and the department provided 74 safety escorts for students and staff.

Mosley described a May 1–10 pro‑Palestine protest that drew roughly 30–40 students during the day and more than 100 overnight at times; KUPD, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Lawrence Police assisted. Mosley said the protest produced four criminal trespass arrests and one battery arrest and no reported injuries or encampments.

Mosley described targeted projects that reduced thefts—particularly bikes and e‑scooter theft—after arrests of two suspects linked to 13 reported theft cases. He also said the campus is pursuing state police accreditation, updated emergency exercises (including active‑shooter and tornado drills), expanded annual exercises, and increased community education programs (79 programs in 2024 including alcohol education, active‑shooter awareness and a RAD self‑defense class). Mosley reported six open police‑officer positions and one open dispatcher position for the Lawrence campus.

Med Center campus: Medical‑center public‑safety leaders reported a roughly 45‑officer sworn force and about 25 non‑sworn employees supporting a campus that handles high volumes of emergency‑department patients. Captains and chiefs said common calls include simple assaults (many patient‑on‑staff incidents), property crimes and drug‑related cases; one presenter said the med center recorded 249 assaults in the prior period. They noted successful investigations that helped reduce auto thefts in recent months.

Medical‑center leaders described equipment upgrades—expanded camera coverage, incoming license‑plate readers and a planned Motorola radio system upgrade that leaders estimated approaching roughly $750,000. They also said the hospital absorbed the university’s prior security staff (a transfer described as a roughly $9 million budget move), and that coordination between hospital security and university police continues.

Clery compliance and training: Jason Goodman, KU’s new Clery coordinator, summarized steps taken since his May 2023 start: reorganizing the annual security report process, implementing a timely‑warning procedure and SOP, identifying stakeholders and designees, creating an incident assessment form, and delivering multi‑day training (about 80 participants) on Clery topics and emergency notifications. Goodman said KU plans a week‑long Clery academy with an external trainer this summer and reported being awarded a national Clery coordinator recognition for his work.

Training and de‑escalation efforts: Presenters said command staff and officers have completed Clery training and extensive cultural‑diversity, crisis‑intervention (CIT) and de‑escalation training. The med center described live‑force (paintball) exercises, active‑shooter tabletops with federal partners and continued focus on annual active‑shooter drills.

Committee reaction: Regents praised the public‑safety teams for their work during the May protests, for enhanced patrols and for community outreach programs. Several regents expressed concern about staffing shortages and asked staff to continue reporting on recruitment and retention efforts.

No committee vote was taken; the updates were provided for oversight and information.