The impact of the slaying of nursing student Laken Riley in February 2024 in Athens was immense.
Because the slaying occurred on the University of Georgia campus, it immediately attracted news attention from throughout the state. And because the suspect was identified by police as an undocumented immigrant, Riley’s death ignited political rallies and public disputes over the issue of immigration. The backlash grew to national intensity during the 2024 election season.
The case also spurred millions of dollars in increased public safety measures on the UGA campus and within the city of Athens.
UGA recently announced that 50 additional emergency call stations costing $1.7 million would be installed on campus. Safety measures on campus were also bolstered with more fencing on the campus perimeter, more automated license plate readers, an increase of 21% in UGA police personnel, lighting upgrades and other measures to ensure the safety of students and others.
Safety upgrades were also made in the city of Athens. One of the largest commitments was for a new Real Time Crime Center, allowing police to use technology already in place to respond quickly to crimes in progress.
“The actual software is up and running. It’s just being done at a computer desk in our small video room at central,” Athens-Clarke Police Chief Jerry Saulters said this week. “We plan on having a contract signed (in February) and get the work done on the larger space”, adding he expects the new site for the Crime Center will be completed at police headquarters on Lexington Road before the 2025 football season.
The chief said police have increased uniform patrols on bicycles and ATVs in downtown and on the Oconee River Greenway as well as other trail areas, usually not accessible by patrol car units.
The investigation into Riley’s slaying resulted in an arrest and eventual conviction based on evidence collected by numerous law enforcement agencies, but Athens-Clarke and UGA police were cooperating on the investigation from the first day.
“We’ve always had a good working relationship with UGAPD,” Saulters said.
The two agencies share many of their cameras that capture footage on campus and downtown and they share a computer system that includes report writing, the chief said.
Police announced they are expanding the public safety network in downtown and along campus corridors, with UGA contributing financially to this expansion.
Saulters said police are looking for more ways to increase public safety.
“We had a 4.5% decrease in violent crime last year, but last year was tough with major incidents” such as the Riley slaying, the chief noted.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Public safety measures continue in wake of the Laken Riley death at UGA
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