MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Many college campuses have felt the impact of Laken Riley's death.
She was a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed on the University of Georgia campus in February.
It left people on Georgia College and State University's campus with a lot of feelings.
“It was really taken to heart because it is such a close school to us and a lot of people knew her,” senior Elizabeth Newland said.
Other students felt similarly.
“The first thought I had was 'What if that was one of my best friends? What if it was a close family friend,'” junior Caroline Hubbard said.
Accounting major, Rachel Austin chimed in saying, “It was scary for me and how it could happen to me."
Police Chief Wesley Hardin says his daughter graduated from UGA, has friends with kids who go there, and is friends with the UGA Chief of Police.
“My heart goes out to them as for what they’re going through as a community, as a college campus and as a police department. It just makes you ever vigilant that things can pivot in a minute and you have to be ready for those things,” Hardin said.
He says they're trying to be prepared. Even before UGA's tragedy.
Hardin says they have a toolbox full of safety measures that they use to keep campus safe. He says they have day and night patrols.
“We make sure that our officers are out and about, that they are visible, that they are approachable. We're looking at the areas that have the highest need,” he said.
This could be in highly populated areas, or at school sports events. Hardin says they even use officers from outside police agencies if needed.
Other tools are the 70 blue light call boxes spread across campus.
“We use it for emergency contacts,” Hardin said. “You just hit the button and it connects to 911 into our office, and then you just tell us whatever your emergency is, and where you are, and what you need."
If you want something a little more mobile, Hardin says they have an app for your cellphone; the Rave Guardian app.
“It’s a one-touch app where you can call 911, you can call our police department, you can send in an anonymous tip," he said.
Newland says her favorite feature is the timer. The app allows her friends and family to track her movements in case something happens.
“A big selling point for me and my parents was the Rave Guardian app,” Newland said. “Being able to see if I've made it to the destination I said I'm walking to.”
Hardin says they also have a Georgia College alert system, too.
“We use it to send out critical information to students and staff, whether it be a community notification or an emergency warning. Like traffic backed up, or severe weather,” he said. “We also have our robust camera system here with almost 500 cameras across campus."
Hardin said they've also surveyed students who’ve asked the police department to teach self-defense classes. There was one taught on campus last Friday.
“It was so much fun. Me and my friend did it and I’ve learned about how to keep myself safe in a situation I could be put in,” Austin said.
She says her mother encouraged her to take the class after what happened at UGA.
“Just being in a sorority and being a girl, it was scary for me,” she said.
Austin said she learned how to advocate for herself using her voice and her body.
“I learned how to palm strike, hammer strike, and how to hit the groin,” she said. “Actually, walking through campus has been easier this week knowing that I can keep myself safe and my friends safe.”
Newland says she's never felt unsafe on campus, but Riley's death gave her perspective.
“Wow, this can really happen on your campus. It's good to know that we have implementations in place to know we'll be safe if something does happen," she said.
Hardin says he just wants people to know that the police department is there to support them.
“I want to prepare and not repair. So, I want to make sure we’re meeting the needs before we have to respond,” Hardin said.
He says they have 500 cameras on campus and an automatic alert system to notify staff and faculty of emergencies.
He says they're hiring at least a dozen more patrol officers. They have eight right now.