Detroit's Wayne State University Listed Among 'Safest College Campuses' In U.S.
DETROIT (WWJ) - One of safest college campuses in the country is located in the city of Detroit.
That's according to new data compiled by Best Colleges.com which ranks Wayne State University among the top 50 campuses (in no particular order) when it comes to safety.
Wayne State Police Chief Anthony Holt credits strong safety and security measures for the low crime rate.
"You know, Wayne State, regardless of what people think — probably because of where we're located — has always been a safe college, always has been," Holt told WWJ Newsradio 950.
"The incidents have always been very low," he said. "I think we moved up a notched because we have different techniques and new police practices put in place, and I think it took us up to another level."
The Wayne State Police Department has 60 officers who patrol the campus and the neighboring Midtown neighborhood, where serious crime has decreased 52 percent since 2008.
"The number one thing that I think you have to do is you have to have a very quick response to a request for service," Holt said. "Number two: You have to have high visibility, where people can see you. And then number three: You have to make the environment safe where people feel comfortable walking around and interacting with the community, visiting the businesses."
Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo also made the "Safest College Campuses" list, which considers crime data from 2009-2013. [See the complete list, HERE].