Lawrence Police Department implements new fall Initiative as student population rises
The Lawrence Police Department (LPD) is taking a more advanced approach to its routine Public Safety Initiative in preparation for population increases as college students come back to town.
The new Fall Initiative is an extension of the already established LPD Public Safety Initiative, where police officers will routinely gather in public areas each school year, introduce themselves, spread helpful safety information, and make newcomers feel comfortable in the Lawrence area.
Safety concerns are at large among college students, following a stabbing on Massachusetts Street in Downtown Lawrence, where a 20-year-old Kansas City resident was murdered. The incident took place on the breezeway between 7th and 8th Street, just two doors down from the popular college student bar, Logies on Mass.
The incident has some college students concerned.
“Going out, it’s okay. It definitely is making me more cautious for sure,” said KU senior Lola Valdovino.
This is not the only bar brawl that has ended in intense casualties. In January, an argument escalated between patrons and staff members at another popular college bar, Jayhawk Cafe. Eventually, gunshots rang out, which took the life of an 18-year-old male and left a 16-year-old male critically injured.
In response, the LPD wants to make it known that this is not an initiative put in place in response to these incidents, but rather a precaution officers take to make sure Lawrence residents feel safe when the population rises during the fall season every year.
“When populations increase, crime increases; it’s just a fact,” said LPD Communications Manager Laura McCabe.
McCabe said the department’s main goal when implementing the initiative is to make sure students and residents are aware of how to reach out for help, and make sure everyone knows the proper safety etiquette when going out at night.
“We’ve got students coming in that have never lived alone,” she said. “So what we try to do is to educate them, not only to say hello… but to give them some information that they maybe have not been given”
Watch the segment here:
