Professor Thomas Meixner’s dying words were, “I knew you were going to do this!”, according to a University of Arizona professor’s report on his murder.
The report argues that many at the university should have known that expelled graduate student Murad Dervish was a dangerous person. Long before he allegedly shot Meixner, chairman of the Hydrological and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HAS), multiple times in his office.
But the report said several departments of the university repeatedly failed to respond effectively. Dervish said that four of his HAS faculty members were searched that day and the situation could have been made worse as police found his two handguns and additional ammunition in his vehicle.
“Dervish harassed four HAS faculty members, a sorority and a Dean of Students (DOS) administrator until he was arrested after the murder.” the report sayswas released on Wednesday.
“During the relevant period between November 2021 and the October 2022 murders, affected HAS members were in continuous communication with DOS, the Office of General Counsel (OGC), and the University of Arizona Police Department (UAPD), I have communicated and reported the harassment, not just verbal threats but my concerns that my life and the lives of others are at risk.”
The month before the shooting, the UAPD reportedly wrote in a crime report on Dervish’s alleged threats that “at this time there is no indication that Dervish intends to return to campus.” That was despite previous reports to the UAPD that Dervish was on campus, the department report said.
“While waiting for universities to take measurable steps,” the Faculty Report said: Examples of purchasing a bulletproof vest, moving an office, temporarily changing residence, installing a home security system, possessing a non-lethal weapon on campus, or maintaining a bullet load at home are examples of immense fear. indicates the state. University responsiveness. ”
As far back as January 2022, HAS leadership had pursued moving the course online for safety reasons, the report said. The following month, HAS leaders wrote that students had been moved from their classrooms and that door combinations had been changed.
At one point, the report states, “OGC advised HAS leaders that sharing information about the risks Dervish posed could violate privacy laws.” Still, at a press conference on the day of Meixner’s death, the UAPD police chief said, “Move forward. If you see anything, say something,” the report said.
Dervish is currently facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled for this fall, according to the Pima County Attorney’s Office.
“The lack of a centralized risk management system and the fragmentation of responsibilities related to the risk of violence have resulted in organizations focusing on legal risks and ignoring the risks of violence,” said the faculty report. I’m here.
It’s an interim report. That last paragraph warns against responding with “securitization.”
“As community members expressed, increased screening and oversight will make them feel safer on campus, especially given that marginalized community members are disproportionately profiled and policed within securitizations. “Therefore, we strongly recommend against such securitizations and better respond to student and employee safety concerns, needs, and well-being.” Recommendations and considerations for achieving this objective will be discussed further in the final report.”
The report is from the Comprehensive Faculty Committee on University Safety for All. Leila Hudson, dean of the university, said she founded it the month of Meixner’s death.
The university declined an interview on Wednesday and advised people to wait for a self-commissioned report. The university criticized the faculty report.
“Following the October 5th tragedy, the university has engaged external safety and security expert PAX Group LLC for a far from comprehensive and exhaustive review,” the university wrote. “Rather, it represents the work of a subset of faculty who have reached sweeping conclusions based largely on misleading characterizations and selective use of facts and citations. , briefly met with the ad hoc faculty committee on the general process, but did not participate in detailed discussions of the events leading up to the October shootings, as the report suggests.”
The PAX report says it “includes countless hours of interviews and expert assessments based on a thorough review of all relevant information and documents.”
On Oct. 10, the university’s president, Robert C. Robbins, referred to “the initial report with recommendations to be submitted to me within 75 days.”
The department reported that the UAPD “took nearly 10 months to submit the report to the Pima County Attorney’s Office, but the HAS victims were unaware of the contents of the report. Indiscreetly speculated that Dervish would not return to campus, despite several reports that Murad violated legal orders, as reported to the UAPD by victims and community members.”
According to reports, police in April charged Dervish with two misdemeanor intimidation charges, which were related to alleged intimidation of administrators.
Dervish reportedly received information about an upcoming expulsion hearing following an email to a HAS faculty member accused of lashing out at Meiksner in middle school and making anti-Semitic and anti-Asian remarks. Furious at the rejection, he is said to have sent an email to an unnamed dean’s office administrator. .
“If you don’t, I promise you the results will be absolutely devastating,” he is quoted as writing.i don’t think you [sic] Start to like. ”
However, the Pima County Attorney’s Office decided not to proceed with the prosecution, and the UAPD closed the case, stating, “By the summer of 2022, the UAPD will file a complaint with the Pima County Attorney’s Office on behalf of the HAS teacher victim or female student. had not filed a criminal report against Vish, a victim who faces continued harassment.”
In September, a month before Meixner’s murder, the UAPD filed a criminal report for “nine threats against a HAS professor and 11 threats against a HAS deputy director,” the report said. there is An email that says:
“Like you didn’t say [sic] In documented email communications with OGC, UAPD, and DOS, we have all parties of the strong opinion that the investigative powers of all relevant law enforcement agencies should be exercised in this case. This includes if Mr. Dervish moves out of state. It is beyond my power as an individual and as a citizen. I did everything I could to protect myself and my family and personally sought legal recourse but to no avail. ”
According to the faculty committee, the UAPD said in the new criminal report, “These issues were initially pending administrative appeals proceedings, and officials wanted the proceedings to be resolved before taking legal action.” , was not criminally dealt with,” he wrote. It is unclear who these “staff members” who wanted to wait were.
And the Commission wrote in its crime report:
“The threatening comments Dervish has made over the past few months have put staff within the department on edge, and he may show up on campus to try and harm those he feels responsible. There is a latent level of concern that there will be his dismissal.Staff concerns are real and understandable, but at this time there is no indication that Dervish intends to return to campus.”
Meixner’s family said the Pima County attorney’s office did not consider the new crime report, which was filed a month before the murder, until after the murder, as the commission wrote. Minor offenses on campus (such as underage drinking). The UAPD did not make an appointment with the PCAO to issue it, nor did he verbally communicate the urgency of this charge as a case requiring immediate action. ”
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said in an email, “The Mikesner family’s words are accurate.” The April and September reports were mailed in the usual campus misdemeanor batches, meaning the reports were Similarly, it was queued at the bottom of the COVID backlog for non-arrest misdemeanor cases.”
