B. J. Bilbo
The shooting took place inside the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center on Oct. 18. Courtesy photo
Grambling State University Police Chief Jerry Melton and the Grambling State University Police Department are working to continue to implement new safety measures after being scrutinized following the Oct. 18 shooting at a party hosted by Kappa Kappa Psi at the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center that left two people, including a Grambling State University Police Officer, injured.
New safety measures were implemented during homecoming week to prevent any other occurrences.
More University Police officers were placed at the doors of the Assembly Center, where the talent show, comedy show and concert were held.
Officers also were equipped with metal detectors to check students.
Students had to present valid IDs and were also not allowed to bring bags or purses inside the homecoming events.
The changes come as students questioned the actions of the Grambling State University Police Department at the Oct. 18 party, including accusations that there were not enough officers assigned to cover the event.
With an estimated attendance of 700 only three police officers were in attendance at the event.
Chief B.J. Bilbo, President of the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers, said that an officer count should always be attached to a student count.
“If you have two officers per 100 students, you’re doing good,” Bilbo said.
The Epsilon Rho chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi at Grambling State University contracted campus police to work security for the party.
Chief Melton stands behind his comment that campus police were lied to about the logistics of the party, which was thought to be a small campus party which is why only three police officers were sent to detail the party.
“It was convinced to me that they could handle it and we were trying to give them a student discount rate to allow them to have an event,” Melton said.
Melton also said that members of Kappa Kappa Psi were bringing in people through side doors of the Assembly Center.
Students also alleged that University Police officers did not respond to a request made by the DJ over the microphone to handle an altercation that occurred before the shooting happened.
Bilbo, a former police officer, said that it is the culture among officers is to stay together like a pack, so it is a possibility that the officers did not hear the request.
Melton said a lot of changes are being when it comes to policies and procedures being enforced by the Grambling State University Police Department.
Melton did not give specific details of those policies and procedures as they are still in development.