About the ranking, First Selectman Mike Tetreau said, “This high honor is a great testament to the exceptional job our Police Department performs day in and day out. It is also a wonderful way to recognize our two outstanding universities and their dedicated campus security, which, together with Fairfield’s finest, keep students safe and parents reassured.”
Findings and Methodology
In anticipation of the new fall semester starting for college students, SafeWise, a community-focused security organization, recently issued its third annual Safest College Towns findings. One of the key findings is that Fairfield and six other top 30 safest college towns are repeats from last year. According to SafeWise, “Today students (and parents) are looking for colleges that deliver academic excellence with a side of safety.”
The safest college towns of 2018 were identified by SafeWise safety experts who analyzed the FBI’s most recent crime statistics to calculate the total number of crimes committed in America’s towns and cities with at least one accredited, academic institution of higher learning. To deem a college town “safe,” SafeWise zeroed in on violent crimes per 1,000 people for each city. From there, analysts weighed those numbers in relation to population numbers and other important factors. Finally, SafeWise identified relevant safety, security, and community outreach programs that help make each Safest College Town safe.
Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara stated, “All the men and women of the Fairfield Police department, including our civilian staff and 911 telecommunicators, some of whom are parents ourselves, understand that when sending their students off to college a big concern is their safety. We are proud to be recognized as a safe college town. We are also proud of the partnerships we have with the public safety units at both universities. It is through these partnerships and dedication that we all make Fairfield a safe town for members of the University communities.”
Fairfield Ranked #11
According to its findings, SafeWise noted that “Fairfield has reason to celebrate its safe streets—this (town) jumped 13 spaces to rank number 11 this year.” Sacred Heart University, one of the town’s major universities, serves over 8,000 students with five violent offenses on campus in 2016.
“The safety of the members of the Sacred Heart community and our guests is always our top priority. We are excited that our safety policies and procedures, along with our strong partnerships with the Fairfield police and fire departments, have contributed to the town’s high safety ranking,” said Jack Fernandez, Director of Public Safety at Sacred Heart University.
SafeWise also highlighted that, “Fairfield University’s excellent safety record adds to the sense of security in this college town and speaks well of both campus safety officers and the overall campus community.”
Director of Public Safety at Fairfield University Todd Pelazza stated, “One of our top priorities at Fairfield University is the safety and security of our students, faculty and staff and we are thankful for the strong partnership with the town of Fairfield, and the members of the police and fire departments.”
About SafeWise
SafeWise is a community-focused security organization committed to increasing safety education, awareness, and preparedness. For more information about the Safest Cities report, please contact info@safewise.com.
About Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a modern, Jesuit Catholic university rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from the U.S. and across the globe are pursuing degrees in the University’s five schools. Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values. The University is located on a stunning 200-acre campus on the scenic Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.
About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus, which is located about an hour from Manhattan and 2.5 hours from Boston. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. More than 8,500 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education; the Jack Welch College of Business; Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, yet at the same time develops students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives and professions and in their communities. A spirit of service, entrepreneurship and social justice is the essence of who we are and can be seen inside and outside the classroom as students learn how to make a difference far beyond Fairfield. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 384 Colleges–2019 Edition, “Best in the Northeast” and Best 267 Business Schools–2018 Edition. It also placed SHU on its lists for “Happiest Students” and “Most Engaged in Community Service,” each of which comprises only 20 U.S. schools. Sacred Heart has a Division I athletics program. www.sacredheart.edu
Pictured above at John J. Sullivan Independence Hall where the two universities' flags are displayed( l-r ):
Deputy Police Chief Chris Lyddy, Todd Pelazza, Director of Public Safety at Fairfield University, First Selectman Mike Tetreau, Police Chief Gary MacNamara, and Jack Fernandez, Director of Public Safety at Sacred Heart University