The Loyola Police Department said they are working hard to create community and friendships with the students by not only building their skills in their department but educating students.
Chief Todd Warren said that in the past he didn’t have the manpower to build his team up, but now with a stronger team, he is able to focus on the importance of student and police relationships.
One way LUPD said they are building community is through monthly newsletters sent out by LUPD’s Lieutenant Patrick Martin. These newsletters teach safety tips while also relating with student issues, Martin said.
In the month of February, Martin sent a newsletter out about the safety of online dating because he said it’s relatable and informational.
“If you put something out in an email it doesn’t matter if it’s three o’clock in the morning or three o’clock in the afternoon, when that person is ready to look at an email, it’s there and available,” Martin said.
Newsletters aren’t the only thing LUPD is doing to build relationships with the students, Martin said they are bringing back a program called “check your ride.” This is a program where LUPD officers teach students important things about their cars, like how to check their oil and how to change a tire.
Martin said a current student brought it to their attention that it should be brought back, adding the importance of not just policing but educating as well.
“It’s also the education piece of teaching them how to do it as well,” Martin said.
Warren said he has also been meeting with the student government association every month to see exactly what students need from the department. He said this doesn’t just get a conversation going about their needs, but it also builds a relationship with the students.
“It gives me the voice from the students as to what is actually concerning them,” Warren said.
Rowan Sawyer, the speaker of the house for SGA and LUPD student liaison, said she has seen a difference in communication compared to prior years.
“It seems like Chief Todd and Lieutenant Martin really do care. And they do want to make things better, which I appreciate,” she said.
Both Warren and Martin said that policing a college campus is based more on friendships and relationships compared to a wider scale police base like New Orleans Police Department.
“You don’t want to be overbearing to where students feel that they’re in a police state,” Martin said, instead students should “feel comfortable enough to approach any of the officers.”
Warren said that with the communication also comes new systems that improve his team. The new dispatch system is something Warren said he is excited to implement into the community because it ensures safety and response efficiency.
Warren emphasizes that it’s all about protecting students and “protecting our future.”
