LSUPD Capt. Mark Shaw said 2002 campus crime statistics show a direct connection between increased patrols and reported crimes.
In 2002, there were 816 total crimes on campus, up from 738 in 2001. Crimes such as theft from motor vehicles, theft from buildings and auto thefts increased.
In addition, Shaw said LSUPD received more calls about suspicious persons on campus and a larger number of building checks and reports in 2002.
It is too early to tell whether campus crime statistics for 2003 have been affected by more law enforcement because total numbers have not yet been evaluated, but Shaw said increased police patrols in response to the serial killer threat affected certain areas of campus.
The community first learned a serial killer stalked Baton Rouge in summer 2002. When students returned to campus in the fall, the University responded to safety concerns with increased police patrols.
“More patrols may have strong effects on some things, but not on others,” Shaw said. “It may have stronger effects on things like loitering and burglaries, but consequently, what you will see is we are not out where other crimes are occurring.”
Shaw said the key to controlling campus crime is having officers evenly dispersed across campus.
“If it’s a trained force that can act independently, then you’ll see a general decrease in crimes,” he said.
Shaw said, in general, the University’s crime rates are very low given the University’s size.
Shaw credited other areas of the University for giving the campus a safe environment.
“Our Residential Life programs are a little more parental, and I think that helps,” Shaw said. “Also, there is really no place to purchase alcohol on campus, so we don’t see a lot of the problems associated with alcohol establishments.”