Chief Wray discusses lowering crime rates at LSUS

Crime at LSU Shreveport continues to diminish according to the most recent safety reports. LSUS Police Chief Donald Wray intends to keep it that way.

Wray has selflessly served in the realm of campus law enforcement since 2011. Having arrived at LSUS in April 2015, Wray has new ideas for solidifying high safety standards. Wray hopes to create a more efficient outreach to LSUS students utilizing mobile technology.

Budgetary and infrastructural restrictions currently limit LSUS Police spending. Meanwhile, LSU Baton Rouge is currently beta testing new programs and technology related to campus security. While testing is still underway, Wray remains optimistic about opportunities for LSUS to obtain this new technology.

These new advancements include a fence capable of routing distress calls directly to LSUS Police. The fence would also create more accurate crime statistics in the future.

“On the front side, it’s a really great idea because we could be able to place a special fence around the property,” Wray said. “So when an individual needs assistance, all they have to do is hit a button on their phone, and because of the wi-fi signal within the fence, the signal would not go to SPD or 9-11. It is able to route the signal to us [LSUS Police] because it knows that the victim is within the fence.”

The outcome of these security system tests will determine whether or not LSUS is suited for such advancements. Wray is currently strengthening bonds between LSUS and Shreveport/Bossier City Police Departments to effectively utilize all available resources.

Wray has also considered social media as means of having direct contact with LSUS students.

“We want to create a Facebook page so students can access policies and safety procedures and to better distribute information out to the public,” Wray said.

Wray clarifies Facebook will not be a form of replacement to proper reporting procedures concerning crime. He urges both LSUS students and faculty members to uphold personal accountability.

“If you try to reduce the amount of opportunity for crime to occur, it is less likely to occur,” Wray said. “If we strive everyday to reduce those individual opportunities, the criminal element doesn’t get an opportunity.”