LUPD plans integration with Real Time Crime Center

BEAUMONT- The Beaumont Police Department's Real Time Crime Center has been successful in quickly identifying suspects using cameras integrated into businesses.

Now the department intends to do the same with integration plans at Lamar University.

Campus safety is an ongoing concern for all colleges, and Lamar University is no different.

“I personally haven't had any bad experiences, but I've heard about other people's experiences and that makes me worry about my friends and people like that who live on campus,” says Mitchell Caldwood, a student at Lamar.

With classes starting in just two days, LUPD is working with the Real Time Crime Center to make the campus a little safer.

“So if a crime occurs and something goes along these lines, the BPD can view the cameras in real time and pass that information on to their officers and our officers to help and bring the person to justice,” says Sergeant Byron Popillion of the LUPD.

Lamar Police hope to ease student and parent concerns by integrating all 400 cameras on and around campus.

“If we could integrate those with the Beaumont PD online cameras. So if someone leaves campus, we don't have access to those cameras right now. But if we knew which direction they were going, what car it was, things like that, it would definitely help us solve those crimes faster,” Popillion says.

Although students say campus security measures are not perfect, they look forward to the introduction of new technologies that could provide additional security.

Mya Caleb of KFDM/Fox 4 reports.