Laken Riley's mother still concerned about safety of UGA students
Laken Riley's mother concerned about safety
Laken Riley's mother is still concerned about student safety on the campus of University of Georgia. During a meeting on Tuesday night, a member of UGA Parents for Safety and Security read a letter from Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips.
ATHENS, Ga. - Following the conviction of the man who killed her daughter, Laken Riley, Allyson Phillips is renewing calls for improved student safety at the University of Georgia.
Jose Ibarra, who was living in the United States illegally, was found guilty of murdering Riley on the university’s campus and has been sentenced to life in prison. Riley was killed during a morning jog on the campus.
What they're saying:
During a public comment session at Tuesday’s Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission meeting, Lynn Gainous, representing "UGA Parents for Safety and Security" and "SafeD Athens," presented a petition with 750 signatures urging the city to fully fund the police department’s Real-Time Crime Center.
Gainous also cited a promise she said Mayor Kelly Girtz made to Phillips — that the center would be fully staffed. As part of her appeal, Gainous read a personal message from Phillips expressing continued concerns about campus safety.
The backstory:
In February of last year, Girtz announced a safety initiative that included investments in the Real-Time Crime Center, which monitors cameras across the city. The plan also allocated funding for all-terrain vehicles for officers and a mobile command unit.
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