SUPD uses continuums for alternatives to force

Police brutality is an issue that re-occurs on a day-to-day basis. Allegations that police officers are man handling innocent people are being used in courtrooms at an increasingly high rate.
Southern University Police Department has no reports of deadly force in regards to civilian and officer confrontation. However, the recent allegations made by two female students stating that SUPD officers used excessive force against them while trying to keep them from leaving in their vehicle before it was towed had put the department under scrutiny.
But after an investigation by the Louisiana State Police, the SUPD officers were found of “no wrong doings” had taken place during the incident.
“The campus police are here to protect the interests of students, not to harm them,” said SUPD Chief of Police Dale Flowers. “It is the duty of SUPD officers to ensure that students as well as themselves are safe in any situation that they approach.
SUPD officers are training in a procedure known as the levels of continuum. This procedure enables SUPD officers to assess a situation and to use the proper methods in order to dissolve the issue. The number one intent of this procedure is to ensure that no one gets hurt.
According to Flowers, each officer assesses the situation and makes the judgement on which level of continuum to use.
“If three or four people are fighting an officer cannot yell ‘ Hey y’all stop fighting.’ That officer must dictate the level in order to get the proper outcome,” said Flowers.
The first level is verbal warning. This is a warning that cautions the individual or group to cease the action at hand.
If the verbal warning doesn’t work and the individual becomes aggressive, the officer moves to level two, the use of the hands. This is the method that is often used when attempting to subdue a physical assault on the officer or on another individual.
“Level two is used because many individuals do not want to cooperate with officers,” said Flowers.
When this method fails, the officer then moves into level three, use of equipment. This equipment includes mace and a patton, which many SUPD officers do not have.
Flowers said this level is only utilized when the individual has elevated in aggression.
The final level is the deadly force. SUPD reported no instances where deadly force was used.
The Baton Rouge Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Department are only called in cases in which SUPD cannot handle. An example of this situation is a riot.
Chief Flowers ensured that SUPD has the authority on all cases, including criminal, on campus. However, there are officers that work for BRPD and the Sheriff’s Office on campus to ensure the safety of students especially on game day and late nights.
“Officers from the city, constable and sheriff offices are located throughout campus usually from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on any day of the week.”