USC Safety Precautions

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"Whenever young, innocent kids are brutally attacked in the way that they were, you have to say no, not in my city; not in our city."

Mayor Villaraigosa passed along this message to members of the USC community at USC's Town and Gown ballroom this morning.

"What happened a few weeks ago, was something that not only effected the student body, but it really tore at the heartstrings of Angelinos all across the city."

So as Police Chief...Charlie Beck...outlined, many safety adjustments are being made around the USC community, and it is all coming out of President Nikias' pocket.

To begin with, 30 police officers will be permanently added to the Southwest division, which patrols the area around USC.

And 4 of these newly added officers will strictly monitor the area directly surrounding USC.

"Their task will be to make sure that the surrounding residential areas of SC, where so many students live, are safe."

And although violence has decreased in the USC area by 27% over the last 2 years...Police Chief Beck is confident that these safety measures are a necessary precaution.

"This is an awful singular incident, but this is not the trend in the SC area. This is not us trying to catch up, it is us addressing an awful singular incident, and there is nothing wrong with that. It is important to the well-being to all of Los Angeles that USC is successful."

Additionally, a detective and city attorney will be assigned to focus wholly on the USC area.

Finally, Police Chief Beck was asked about the ongoing investigation.

"I am pleased with the progress to date, I won't predict when we will give an outcome, but I am confident in the detective and investigative process going forward. We will reach a resolution on this."

No new information has been released.

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