After the shooting of Lt. Vickie Wax in the Wal-Mart on PerkinsRoad last month, Baton Rouge received a wake-up call concerningsecurity in area businesses.
A shoplifter killed Lt. Vickie Wax May 22 after he tried toleave the store. Wax was working off-duty as a security guard atWal-Mart.
An East Baton Rouge grand jury indicted Shedran Williams lastweek for Wax’s murder.
Sharon Weber, a national spokesperson for Wal-Mart, said they doeverything they can to prevent crime from happening, but incidentssuch as Wax’s death still occur.
“Prior to [the shooting] we had off duty police officers in thestore and patrolling the parking lot,” Weber said. “We continue todo what we did as before — safety is always a top priority. Youcan do all these things but unfortunately it’s impossible topredict and prevent everything.”
Weber said in every community with a Wal-Mart, the store workswith local authorities to provide security.
“Each community and each store is different and their securityneeds are different,” she said. “We work alongside localauthorities to make sure we’re doing the best we can for thatspecific location.”
Both local businesses and the Baton Rouge Police Department saythey take measures to prevent similar crimes from happening.
“Unfortunately in this business that’s something you have tobattle everyday,” said Bill Hounshell, store manager at theMatherne’s grocery store on Highland Road. “We’d like to think ourawareness is heightened all the time.”
Cpl. Don Kelly, a spokesperson for BRPD, said area businessesoften hire off-duty police officers as security guards.
“[In] just about any business you can imagine, we probably haveoff-duty officers that do work for those businesses,” he said.
Kelly said the only place off-duty officers will not work is abarroom.
Hounshell said the subject of security comes up weekly inmanagement meetings and in employee training. He said they trainthe employees on how to spot shoplifters.
Hounshell and Weber said they could not comment specifically onsecurity at their stores or if anything has changed since theWal-Mart shooting because of security reasons.
But Hounshell said the size of their small grocery stores makethem safer.
“You’re kind of aware of what is going on in a small area,” hesaid.
Ashley Beaslay, a general studies senior, said the Wal-Martshooting made her more wary about traveling alone in Baton Rouge,especially at night.
Beaslay said she still continues to go places alone — but onlyduring the day.
Crystal White, a general studies senior, said she continues hernormal routine.
“Safety is a matter of common sense,” she said. “You shouldn’tgo out around two or three in the morning.”
Weber said safety will continue to be a top priority forWal-Mart, as the shooting remains a terrible reminder of what couldhappen.
“Our associates are really trying to work through everything,”she said. “It was such a tragedy.”