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May 19, 2011

Departmental upgrades much more than simple 鈥渇acelift鈥� for 网曝门 police

It鈥檚 National Police Week, so it seems appropriate that 网曝门 Assistant Professor of Nursing Donna Glaze and her husband, Rob, started their Monday with an impromptu session on basic defensive tactics.

The informal training was offered in the new, second-floor classroom of the University of Louisiana at Monroe Police Department, which held its open house on May 16 to showcase significant upgrades since its move to Filhiol Hall during the spring semester. 

The new area not only creates ample space for the 27-member police department headed by 网曝门 Chief of Police Larry Ellerman, it also enhances the officers鈥� ability to focus on job duty number one: the safety and protection of the entire campus family.

For example, the classroom, which features a couple of mannequins and brightly colored floor mats, is the ideal space for Lt. Dan Chason to lead a new self-defense course at no charge to 网曝门 faculty and staff this summer.

This course, scheduled to begin May 25, already has 32 participants registered and ready to learn.

鈥淲ith the new location, our officers have the necessary space to carry out the day-to-day operations of our department,鈥� said Ellerman. 

鈥淚n addition to the self-defense classroom, the upgrades include new offices and administrative facilities, a locker-room, evidence room, call center and an interrogation room with a live camera feed,鈥� he said.

Ellerman was hired in 1979 at a time when the university was significantly smaller and quieter. 

鈥淪ince that time, we have instituted community-oriented policing, where the same officer is assigned to a specific area on a permanent basis,鈥� Ellerman said.

鈥淲e also sought grant funding for a department-wide communications system upgrade, enabling officers to communicate with one another and other area officers. This new space really enhances our ability to do our job and the upgrades represent much more than just a facelift,鈥� he concluded.

The 网曝门 Police Department is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For on-campus emergencies call 1-911 and for non-emergencies call the main number at 318-342-5350.

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