Cal State Campus Reports Drop in Crime

NORTHRIDGE — A host of changes within the campus police department at Cal State Northridge have led to a 40% drop in reported crimes in 1999 compared with the previous year, department officials said Tuesday.

While the number of campus police officers grew from 20 to 23, the number of reported crimes fell on the 27,000-student campus from 465 in 1998 to 281 in 1999, a report released by university police Chief Ronald Seacrist showed.

Seacrist, who took command in April 1999, said having “more eyes and ears to report suspicious activity helps cut down crime around campus dramatically.”

University police took over management of campus housing security and student escorts. And the department also hired an officer whose sole job is to teach crime recognition and prevention to students and faculty.