The progress on the investigation of the recent double homicide and a need for increased security measures on campus were addressed at the Campus Safety forum on Thursday afternoon. Despite severe weather, several faculty members and students showed up to voice their concerns at the event sponsored by The American Association of University Professors. “It’s hard to protect everyone at all times, ” said Interim Chancellor William Jenkins. “We have to do everything in our power to ensure that our students, faculty and visitors proceed as best we can.” Detective David Heroman, LSU Police Department and task-force spokesman said the police cannot reveal any recent leads they have on the double homicide. Heroman said the task-force appreciates the work Crime Stoppers is doing. The task-force is still looking into every lead they receive and meeting daily. “We can pull together as a community,” Heroman said. Eric Monday, University associate vice chancellor and interim director of emergency operations, said the two most important issues on the University’s agenda are installing security cameras and increasing the police presence on campus. Maj. Lawrence Rabalais, LSUPD spokesman, said the University has put up 50 surveillance cameras throughout campus. Of the 50 cameras, Residential Life has installed 13 cameras at Nicholson and Edward Gay apartments. Rabalias said several cameras will be working within a week. Monday said the University has $180,000 in its budget for installing the new security cameras. Rabalais said another security upgrade, which is still in its first stages, is installing security gates at several apartment complexes including Nicholson Apartments. The University is also planning to set up call boxes near bus stops and on Nicholson Drive. “I need to remind everyone, we are a city inside of a city,” Rabalais said. Rabalais said there is always crime inside a city, and he thinks the University’s police force is the best he has seen in 20 years. “Our policy is no less than three officers on duty at all times,” Rabalais said. “But majority of the time we have four or five.” Rabalais said the police coverage is higher on campus compared with other parts of the Baton Rouge area. Police force surveillance from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. was put into place after the double homicide in Edward Gay Apartments and will continue there and at several other apartments on campus. Another topic addressed, was the lighting on campus. James Mayne, Facility Services associate director, said there is ongoing action to take care of the places on campus that are considered “dark areas.” Mayne said his No. 1 priority is lighting the area on South Stadium Drive by the University lakes.
—-Contact Joy Lukachick at [email protected]