University of Kentucky Police Chief says 2025 report shows declines in some crime categories, with 24 rapes reported on main campus

The University of Kentucky Police Department reported that some categories of crime declined in 2025, even as the department logged 24 reported rapes on its main campus, according to Police Chief Joe Monroe. Monroe said the department’s 2025 police report shows encouraging movement in several areas, but he cautioned that raw counts do not necessarily tell the entire story about safety on campus.

Monroe’s comments centered on the department’s annual look at reported incidents across the university’s policing jurisdiction. He characterized the decreases in multiple categories as a positive sign for public safety planning and enforcement activity, while also emphasizing that the figures should be interpreted carefully when evaluating trends over time.

On the question of sexual violence, the department’s reporting showed 24 rapes on the main campus in 2025. Monroe said those numbers require attention and reinforce the importance of ongoing prevention and response efforts, even when other crime categories move in a favorable direction.

In describing how the department uses the data, Monroe highlighted that declines in certain crime categories do not automatically mean every type of risk is improving at the same pace. He pointed to the need to consider how reporting patterns, investigation outcomes, and campus conditions can affect what appears in annual totals.

The chief’s remarks also underscored that police statistics are only one component of campus safety. Monroe said members of the campus community should still treat safety concerns seriously and continue to rely on established reporting and support channels when incidents occur or when something feels off.

Campus public safety data are typically used by universities to guide staffing, enforcement priorities, and prevention programming, and they also form part of how students, employees, and families evaluate the environment where classes and campus activities take place. With the 2025 figures now in hand, the university and police department are expected to continue using the results to assess whether current measures are working and where additional resources may be needed.

For students and staff, the practical takeaway from the department’s update is that some reported crime categories improved in 2025, but serious incidents, including reported rapes, remain part of the campus safety landscape. The police department’s caution about interpreting totals suggests continued focus on both measured enforcement efforts and the processes that determine how incidents are documented and addressed.