Is UAHuntsville's Campus Police Department Diminishing The Danger On Campus?

When you send your son or daughter off to college, you worry about their safety. Our Taking Action Investigation reveals a possible conspiracy to cover up crime at the University of Alabama in Huntsville

In the wake of the February 12 deadly shooting at UAHuntsville, we began examining the campus police department's handling of the crisis. That led to some disturbing discoveries -- things we never imagined we'd find.


Universities are required by federal law to keep track of certain crimes and make public the statistics. Naturally, administrators want their campus to be safe. Crime impacts their image and can hurt enrollment. But would they go so far as to cover up crime? Our investigation reveals UAHuntsville may be downplaying crime -- diminishing the danger to make the campus appear safer.

One person is speaking out to WHNT NEWS 19, to expose potential wrongdoing.

"Everyone that works there at some point in time has investigated a burglary and they have been persuaded and or forced to change that classification into a theft," said the informant.

We're concealing the informant's identity. The whistleblower is afraid of retaliation for speaking out to WHNT NEWS 19.

Is there a danger to students, faculty and staff at UAHuntsville?

"They are being misinformed and the severity of certain issues are diminished to give the perception that the campus is safer," the informant said.

Is someone diminishing the danger?

"The danger within a report is diminished and the true severity of the offense is downplayed," the informant told WHNT NEWS 19.

WHNT NEWS 19 obtained internal police reports that show burglaries labeled as burglaries on the officer's report, but only reported as theft of property cases on the daily crime log.

A closer examination of crime incident reports shows details that should be reported as burglaries merely reported as theft of property.

Two separate internal police reports show two stolen motor vehicles. However, according to the crime log, one appears as a theft. The other isn't listed at all. Why the discrepancies?

The whistle blower claims it's a systematic way of excluding them from being counted.

"How did you feel when you were persuaded or forced to change the report?" we asked the informant.

"Troubled," the person said. "But you know that you have to do as you're told, or else they'll be consequences."

"What would those consequences be if you defied the order?" we asked.

"Retaliation from the upper administration within the police department," the informant replied.

"Would that be Chief Gailes and Lieutenant Robert Brady?" we asked.