Shawnee State University’s campus sits as a beacon of progress along the idyllic riverside of Portsmouth — a city that plays host not only to students but to an undercurrent of criminal activity that plagues its streets night and day. Plenty of rumors fly about the seedy criminal underbelly that lies just beneath the surface of our college town, but what do the numbers actually reflect?
The Portsmouth Police Department reports its statistics to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, an initiative that began in 2017 to allow the public user-friendly access to crime data. According to that database, 331 total violent offenses occurred on the streets of Portsmouth between Oct. 16, 2019, and Oct. 16, 2024. A breakdown of that number includes three homicides, 48 charges of rape, 43 charges of robbery and 237 charges of aggravated assault.
The population of Portsmouth was also subject to a total of 995 instances of property crimes, including five charges of arson, 192 charges of burglary, 718 charges of larceny-theft and 80 charges of motor vehicle theft.
Some criminal charges do not fall under the category of violent or property crimes, but are important to note, nevertheless. During the same period of time, Portsmouth witnessed 13 kidnapping/abductions, 185 instances of shoplifting, 104 weapon law violations, 369 drug/narcotic violations and 681 cases of simple assault, which is distinguished by the intent to cause minor harm, like shoving someone during an altercation.
Despite its location, the sort of criminal activity happening out there every day in Portsmouth does not appear to affect the college campus. Here, we see an altogether different trend.
The Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S, Department of Education collects crime and fire data for the last three years from all schools that receive Title IX funding. That information is available for the public to research safety and security on college campuses, including SSU.
On campus, there were two reports of rape and one of fondling in the Department of Education’s database. No information could be obtained about whether or not these charges made it to court.
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) aims to provide protection against domestic violence and abuse in housing that receives funding from the government, which would include student housing on campus. As such, violations to VAWA must be reported. SSU’s report of VAWA violations included nine instances of stalking.
No information could be obtained about whether or not these charges made it to court.
There were two arrests for drug abuse violations and one weapons charge for carrying or possession. SSU reported 11 liquor law violations in 2021 and 18 in the following year.
Reported cases of rape, fondling and stalking have all increased in recent years. SSU’s director of public safety, Jon Peters, who has been with the university since 2012, said he believes the slight increase in crime on campus was due in part to the COVID-19 outbreak. Our society was tremendously impacted by the pandemic, and the lockdowns that quickly followed practically put a full stop to social engagements. Those young adults in university now may not have had the chance to learn proper social norms before being tossed onto a campus where they suddenly have to live with one another.
In all actuality, the average day for Shawnee police and security isn’t as exciting as Portsmouth’s crime rates would suggest. Most of their calls revolve around students’ medical issues and fire alarms from student housing, though they’re usually the result of a mishap in the kitchen, rather than an actual fire.
Although SSU is an open campus, Peters said people are not likely to linger, and they “tend to keep moving” when passing through. Occasionally, someone will stop to use the bathroom and take so long that they must be asked to leave. This may increase as we move into the winter months, as people try to find a reprieve from the cold.
Peters also remarked that Portsmouth locals going “dumpster diving” used to be a frequent occurrence on account of students tossing furniture in the trash once it’s time to move out. Now, most of Shawnee’s dumpsters have been moved on campus, and the problem has resolved itself.
Having spent 15 years with the Portsmouth Police Department, there are few with the experience necessary to compare SSU’s crime rate to the surrounding city’s statistics than Peters himself, who said that Shawnee’s campus appears in Portsmouth “like an oasis.”
