TERRE HAUTE —
A committee representing southside neighborhoods, law enforcement and school officials met Thursday to discuss safety concerns related to Gibault Services Inc. and it expects to add members.
More southside neighborhoods will be involved in future discussions, said Ray Azar, Vigo County School Corp. director of student services, who facilitated Thursday’s meeting.
The group also wants to meet with Gibault representatives so Gibault staff can hear the community’s concerns and present a plan to improve security at the residential treatment facility, he said. Thursday’s meeting was closed, but Azar spoke to reporters afterward.
At issue are the number of Gibault walkaways that are occurring, with some of those walkaways becoming involved in violent incidents in the community.
One of those incidents occurred last week, when three Gibault walkaways were taken into police custody after allegedly attacking a woman in the southside Walmart parking lot.
Gibault, a residential treatment facility, “has an obligation to make sure their presence does not contribute to an unsafe environment” that puts residents and schools at risk, Azar said.
Gibault residents may have a history of violence or “terrible behavior problems,” Azar said. That means they probably need a higher level of supervision and security than they currently have, he said.
Committee members came up with suggestions to improve security that include:
• Nearby residents and schools need to be notified when there is a walkaway.
• Sheriff Greg Ewing suggests Gibault needs to notify law enforcement more quickly when a juvenile is attempting to leave campus.
• Ewing also suggested that sheriff’s department patrols routinely drive through campus and have greater visibility there.
Kal Ellis, representing the Richland Manor Homeowners Association, said Gibault must address security concerns “or there will be consequences. We’ve dealt with it long enough, and it’s time for them to step up to the plate. … Enough is enough. How many more incidents do we have to have?”
Azar said the next committee meeting could occur as early as next week. The committee believes Gibault needs to implement changes “very quickly” to provide greater safety and security for the community.
Ewing met with Michele Madley, Gibault vice president and executive director of the Terre Haute campus, on Wednesday.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
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