Compared to notorious crime-filled city Chicago, Everett is on the tamer side. In fact, for a state that boasts the most dangerous city in America according to Safewise, Everett shouldn’t draw a second glance.

And yet, it does.

Neighborhood Scout has compiled crime rates and statistics from the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department. According to its data, Everett is safer than only three percent of the cities in the U.S. It should be noted that in Chicago, the chances of being a victim of violence is 1 in 110, as opposed to Everett’s 1 in 256. However, the chances of being a victim of property crime in Chicago is 1 in 33 while Everett’s is 1 in 17.

To add onto the growing list of concerns, Snohomish County provides an online database of sex offenders in the county. Within one mile of EvCC’s campus, six Level II offenders reside.

Within five miles of campus, that number jumps to 161 offenders. The risk is more apparent with the presence of Whittier Elementary School a fence away. Children can often be seen crossing through campus to and from school in the early morning and afternoon.

Chuck Macklin, director of campus safety and emergency management, assures students the registered sex offenders have been reintroduced to society. “The ones attending courses on campus meet with the dean of students, and their instructors are notified. We’ve not had any issues that I’m aware of.” He added unregistered offenders are a cause for concern.

Any crime would be reported in the annual crime and safety report. Post-secondary schools participating in Title IV student financial aid programs must submit a Clery Report, a record of crimes committed on or near campus organized by type, location and year. EvCC’s 2016 Clery Report contains information from the years of 2013-2015.

Macklin is the former police chief of Mukilteo and joined EvCC staff in the fall of 2016, but he already has a vision for the new security team. “I want the security to be more transparent to students than it has been in the past.” One of security’s main focuses is high-visibility patrols.

For fall quarter, EvCC’s security was three officers short of the standard 10-officer team but maintained a 24-hour patrol. Macklin said security officers such as Rami “Lance” Chaar, a military veteran and security contractor who joined staff in 2016, “genuinely cares for the welfare of students and faculty.”

Chaar’s personal goal is to follow through procedures and protect students and faculty to the best of his ability, but enough citizens pass through campus to make it challenging for security to manage them all.

Students are encouraged to report incidences and be aware of their surroundings.

“Always have an eye towards safety,” Macklin said, adding personal safety is ultimately the responsibility of the individual. “There’s so many looking at their phone while walking. If you have a friend, walk with a friend. Walk with a sense of purpose.”