LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The Lafayette Parish School System and Police Department have made adjustments to procedures at N.P. Moss Preparatory campus following the suspected rape of a female student last week.
“The changes that were made was where the officers are located on campus and how we conduct business,” Sandra Billeaudeau, district assistant superintendent of schools, told The Advocate Monday.
A police officer trained as a school resource officer is assigned to the school, and since November, two additional police officers have provided support to the campus, said Lafayette police Sgt. Mark Francis, who supervises school resource officers at Lafayette city schools.
Francis said the three officers will remain on the campus to continue to provide support to staff.
“We’ll make sure they’re arriving with just them and their books and not arriving with contraband,” Francis said.
The officers will also assist staff in monitoring other areas of the campus and adjacent property such as the Domingue Recreation Center, which is being used by the school for physical education classes while the campus’ gym is being renovated, Billeaudeau said.
Last week, two Moss Prep students were arrested in the rape of a female student inside the Domingue Recreation Center, said Lafayette police Cpl. Paul Mouton, police spokesman.
He said a 16-year-old student was arrested on one count of aggravated rape and a 13-year-old student was booked on one count of principal to rape. Mouton said the police would not release the age of the victim.
The Moss Prep campus houses the district’s alternative program for students who are removed from their home schools due to discipline issues.