The Northern Kentucky University Police reported four rapes and seven cases of stalking last year in its annual security & fire safety report for 2026 released on Thursday, but overall crime on campus was largely unchanged from the year before.
The report details campus statistics on crime and fires from the previous year and prior for both NKU’s Highland Heights campus and the now closed Grant County campus. Current NKU students and staff received an email with a link to access the report to read for themselves, it is also available for the public online.
In Highland Heights, notable figures from the report show NKU University Police reporting four cases of rape in 2025, an increase from two cases in 2024, along with campus police reporting seven instances of stalking in 2025, which is down from eight in 2024.
University police issued 11 disciplinary referrals for “liquor law violations” in 2025, a decrease by more than half from 26 in 2024. Additionally, only one arrest was made for violations of liquor laws in 2025, compared to two in 2024.
Eight disciplinary referrals were made for “drug abuse violations” in 2025, up from seven the previous year, with eight arrests being made by campus police on public property for drug abuse in 2025, an increase from 2024.
No reports for crimes such as murder, manslaughter, robbery, burglary and vehicle theft were made in 2025 according to the report.
NKU’s Grant County campus in Williamstown, Kentucky, which closed earlier this year, reported zero crimes per the report.
Additional data from the report shows zero fires on any of NKU’s on-campus student housing facilities between 2023 and 2025.
Each of the housing facilities have their fire alarms monitored by NKU police, and each building holds four fire drills per year.
In the report, Northern Kentucky University President Cady Short-Thompson states that safety is a top priority of the school.
“Safety is a priority at NKU and a crucial part of our commitment to student success and
regional stewardship. We are proud to provide a safe campus,” she said.
A statement from NKU to The Northerner said “student, faculty, staff and visitor safety is a top priority” to the university’s decision-making processes, requiring the collaboration of many departments and leaders associated with the school.
“Our shared focus is on preventing problems, responding to concerns and maintaining a safe campus where students can focus on their education, faculty and staff can do their best work and visitors feel welcome and safe,” the statement read.
Northern Kentucky University Police Chief John Gaffin praises his employees and their ability to “serve, protect and educate NKU’s campus community.”
“Our staff is committed to supporting student success and ensuring positive outcomes for our community wherever possible—including fostering close partnerships with both on-and off-campus partners,” Gaffin said in the report.
Gaffin said university police are making many efforts to prevent substance abuse and keep students safe.
“We strive to be collaborative and educational. The goal of programming that touches substance use, like drug take-backs or safe spring break initiatives, is always prevention and student safety. We are grateful for outstanding partners across campus, especially those in student affairs, who share these goals and help make these events a success,” he said.
In accordance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, now known as the Clery Act, universities like NKU are required to publish an annual campus safety report “to communicate important safety information to the campus community and to assist prospective students and employees.”
NKU is ranked ninth on a list of safest campuses nationwide by Academic Influence.
