The LSU Police Department worked cooperatively with LSU Residential Life to host a campus Night Out Against Crime event Thursday.
The event was created through the Adopt-a-Hall program to strengthen the relationship between students living on campus and LSUPD officers.
“We want people not only to see us as officers of the law but as a people, too,” LSUPD spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde said.
The event began at 5 p.m. in the ResLife courtyard in front of West Hall.
LSUPD officers arrived via the mobile command truck accompanied by a member of the LSUPD motorcycle patrol and members of the Special Response Team.
Lalonde hosted a presentation during the event. He discussed the various LSUPD programs such as the “See Something, Say Something” campaign as well as the “Zombie” campaign, and he also introduced fellow LSUPD officers.
Daniel Richardson, LSUPD officer and SRT member showed off Meggie the German Shepard, a member of LSUPD’s K-9 Unit, and he also went into detail about how the department trains its K-9 unit to sniff out drugs such as marijuana and heroin.
“It’s a rewarding job,” Richardson said. “It requires a lot of training, but it’s a lot of fun.”
SRT officer Kory Melancon provided information on SRT training and displayed various tools and weapons SRT members use, such as a ballistics shield, a 40 pound door ram and high-powered entry rifles.
Students were allowed to slip on the ballistics vest and take as many selfies depicting them wielding an unloaded HK416 assault rifle as they desired.
Mountain bike patrol officer Sarah Drake talked about how her department operated on campus and explained the advantages a member of the bike patrol could have over a standard patrol officer. Drake also allowed students to try on “Drunk Goggles”, which simulate the effects an intoxicated person may experience.
Motorcycle patrol officer James Pittman went into detail about LSUPD’s traffic division and also allowed students to sit on one of LSUPD’s motorcycles.
The event marked the first time Night Out Against Crime aimed strictly at the campus residential community, and Lalonde has hope for carrying on with the event in the future.
“We would like it to be successful.” Lalonde said. “We’d like to expand it to other residential areas on campus, as well.”