Over the summer, there have been several instances of robbery and attempted robbery on the downtown Pew Campus that have been reported to the public. These instances have left members of the Grand Valley State University asking why there seems to be an increase in downtown crime as the weather warms up. A report of sexual assault that was later proven to have not occurred was also reported.

The Grand Valley State University Police Department has been utilizing the emergency alert system to increase awareness of the GVSU community.

“It is important to recognize that crime is not something often associated with Grand Valley,” said Grand Valley Police Department Capt. Brandon DeHaan. “We look to deal with these instances and inform students of the proper reactions to different scenarios.”

There have been several instances of reported violence, mainly on the Pew Campus. During these type of situations, it is important to be alert and aware and inform authorities directly after the incident to improve the likelihood of stopping the perpetrator.

“We would like to stress that students ensure their cell phones are fully charged when going out,” DeHaan said. “In several of these instances, cell phones have had dead batteries preventing the students from alerting the authorities immediately.”

Anyone with information regarding a criminal incident downtown should call the Grand Rapids Police Department at (616) 456-3400 or Kent County Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345 or toll free at 1(866) 774-2345 or the Grand Valley Police Department at (616) 331-3255.