As a result of scaled-back operations by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Police Department (ULPD), the amount of crime reported in the residence halls has increased. Similar to other campus departments, budget cuts have caused the department to lose a significant number of officers, impacting the way they respond to situations on campus.
ULPD currently has 23 officers assigned to the main campus and five assigned to the New Iberia Research Center. According to Sgt. Lance Frederick, a public information officer for ULPD, 16 officer positions have been affected through a combination of staffing reductions, personnel actions, resignations and retirements.
Prior to budget restraints, ULPD had a residence hall safety initiative that increased the presence of officers in dormitories. There were four officers at the entrance of the dorms, and officers used to monitor residence halls by patrolling. After the initial 10% budget cut required of departments on campus, ULPD reduced the number of officers to two. Currently, there are no officers assigned to residence halls.
Frederick explained that, with limited resources and staff, ULPD has put other responsibilities first. “It’s awesome to have an officer in the dorm. But not at the expense of not being able to respond to calls in a timely manner,” he said.
Along with a reduced presence in dorms and on campus, the response times to reports are longer. Calls for non-emergency services, like assistance with locked vehicles or escorts, might have to wait longer for ULPD. Additionally, ULPD reduced public safety programs, such as safety seminars and public awareness initiatives. They have also limited all non-mandated training for staff.
A resident assistant (RA) on campus said her work has been impacted by ULPD’s cuts. According to her, RAs are trained on how to respond to certain situations regarding residents and when to call ULPD for assistance. In lieu of the budget issues, RAs have recently been instructed not to call ULPD, as they would have in the past. Instead, they are to call their supervisor for the information to be passed along the chain of command, leaving it to them to decide if ULPD is necessary.
Commenting on the response time from ULPD, the source echoed that the department takes longer to respond. “They always say they’re… two minutes away because they’re on campus, but it’s never that quick,” she said.
For example, if a physical fight happened in the dorm, RAs are supposed to call ULPD. However, according to the source, by the time ULPD arrives, either the parties involved have already left, or most of the work in breaking up the fight has already been done by RAs.
The source said the added responsibility on RAs has resulted in more scrutiny from supervisors over her response time to situations. Moreover, she said she is fearful that a serious medical emergency could happen in the residence hall, and she is “just sitting there waiting” for the necessary support. Overall, the source said that the changes have inflated existing issues. The rules of the RA’s job did not allow her to be named.
Despite staffing limitations and their scaled-back efforts, Frederick said ULPD will continue to prioritize its public safety responsibilities. “We’re gonna do what we have to do. We want parents to still feel that security, ’cause we’re still here.”