Campus Crimes
Each quarter, UWPD selects certain crimes to highlight our officers’ work on campus and the types of incidents they respond to. The list below represents just a fraction of the calls for service for our police officers and security officers.
The UW-Madison Police Department maintains a Clery Crime and Fire Log, updated within two business days of UWPD receiving a crime report, to keep the campus community informed about crime. The log is maintained in compliance with the Clery Act, which mandates that the university publish information about reported crime within UWPD’s patrol jurisdiction and on UW–Madison’s on-campus, non-campus, and public property, as defined by the Clery Act.
Select 2020 Cases/Incidents
- Strong Arm Robbery- In January, officers responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery that alleged to have occurred at a bus stop on campus. During the investigation, it was determined the reporting party filed a false report and no robbery actually occurred. The individual was charged with obstruction.
- Double Homicide- Officers responded to the UW Arboretum on March 31 for a report of two unconscious individuals. One individual was pronounced dead at the scene and the second later died at a local hospital. After an investigation, two individuals were arrested in connection with the deaths and charged with two counts of party to a crime for first-degree intentional homicide.
- Domestic Abuse- Officers responded to a domestic abuse in progress that occurred at the American Family Children’s Hospital in July. Through an investigation, several charges were filed against the assailant, who eventually turned himself into the Dane County Jail.
- Kidnapping/Aggravated Assault- In November, officers responded to a call involving an individual who had been battered. The individual reported being punched in the head, choked, and held against his/her will in a dorm room on campus. The assailant was known to the victim, admitted to the actions, and was arrested.
Select 2020 Cases/Incidents
- Burglary- Over Thanksgiving weekend in 2019, several musical instruments were stolen from the Humanities Building. After a lengthy investigation, that involved numerous police departments throughout Wisconsin, on April 6, 2020 an individual was arrested. The individual has been linked to 21 burglaries, which included the burglaries at the Humanities Building.
- Graffiti- Officers responded to numerous reports of graffiti on campus buildings spanning over several months in. While investigating the incidents, officers were able to connect them all to the same suspect(s) due to similar styles and words in the taggings. In May, after receiving a lead from a neighboring police department, UWPD officers charged two individuals with multiple counts of misdemeanor graffiti. Both individuals confessed to the crimes.
- Graffiti- On September 3, officers responded to a report of racist graffiti on multiple buildings on campus. Through the use of security cameras, officers were able to identify a suspect. The individual was arrested by the City of Madison Police Department in connection with similar incidents that occurred in the city. UWPD referred charges for graffiti against the individual.
- Theft- UWPD received a report of a theft of a rare Algonquin Pillar Swiss Mountain Pine Tree from UW Arboretum. The theft is believed to have occurred between November 5 and November 9. A second tree was damaged by having the top cut off. Estimated damage/loss for both trees is $13,000. No suspects have been identified at this time.
- Theft- On November 15, officers cited two individuals for various offenses they committed while stealing/damaging exit signs from 18 residence halls on campus.
- Assist Outside Agency- In December a UWPD officer heard a neighboring police department being called to a burglary in progress. The officer responded to assist. When officers arrived on the scene, the suspect fled on foot. The UWPD officer tracked the suspect and apprehended him until other officers arrived.
Citation & Arrest Data
UWPD categorizes crimes based on the FBI’s uniform crime reporting system called NIBRS: National Incident Based Reporting System. According to the FBI, NIBRS was implemented to improve the overall quality of crime data collected by law enforcement. NIBRS captures details on each single crime incident — as well as on separate offenses within the same incident — including information on victims, known offenders, relationships between victims and offenders, arrestees, and property involved in crimes.
Each offense reported in NIBRS is either a “Group A” or “Group B” offense type.
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What is a "Group A" offense?
- Animal Cruelty
- Arson
- Assault (Aggravated, Simple, Intimidation)
- Bribery
- Burglary/Breaking and Entering
- Counterfeiting/Forgery
- Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property
- Drug/Narcotic Offenses (including drug equipment violations)
- Embezzlement
- Extortion/Blackmail
- Fraud (false pretenses/swindle/confidence game, credit card and ATM fraud, impersonation, welfare and wire fraud)
- Gambling (betting, wagering, operating/promoting/assisting gambling, gambling equipment violations, sports tampering)
- Homicide (murder and non-negligent manslaughter, negligent manslaughter, justifiable homicide)
- Human Trafficking
- Kidnapping/Abduction
- Larceny (pocket-picking, purse snatching, shoplifting, theft, and all other larceny)
- Motor vehicle theft
- Pornography/Obscene Material
- Prostitution Offenses (prostitution, assisting or promoting prostitution)
- Robbery
- Sex Offenses, Forcible (forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, forcible fondling)
- Sex Offenses, Non-forcible (incest, statutory rape)
- Stolen Property Offenses/Fence
- Weapon Law Violations
What is a "Group B" offense?
- Bad Checks
- Curfew/Loitering/Vagrancy Violations
- Disorderly Conduct
- Driving Under the Influence
- Drunkenness
- Family Offenses, Nonviolent
- Liquor Law Violations
- Peeping Tom
- Trespass of Real Property
- All Other Offenses