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Louisville day care speaks out on police response time, wants to build better relationship with LMPD

The childcare facility said sometimes it takes 20 to 40 minutes for an officer to arrive after they call 911.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Shattered glass from broken windows could be seen on the ground around Lil' Genius Childcare Center on March 18. 

The daycare said this isn't the first time they've been vandalized. Assistant director Desarea Thompson said they've replaced windows several times since February.

Lil' Genius has called police for numerous trespassers and violent attacks but said response times are taking too long. 

"We're seeing at least 20 to 30 minutes if we get a response," Thompson said. "Majority of the time, it's longer."

Thompson said it's been discouraging to them and parents, and that they believe it's the same person who was persistently smashing their windows with rocks. 

"Our safety net that we're supposed to have isn't responding to us," Thompson said. "The safety of the kids enrolled and parents, everyone is our top priority."

Damage to the window has cost the daycare thousands of dollars. They've since installed metal nets to prevent it from happening again.  

Credit: WHAS-TV
A broken window at Lil' Genius Childcare.

"To constantly have to fork out this kind of money to correct these things it becomes a headache," Thompson said. "It becomes disheartening when you're pouring out your love to the community, and the community doesn't love you back."

After the latest vandalism, the following day Lil' Genius called police because the same man was outside harassing parents. 

Thompson said she's disappointed in how long it took for police to answer that call.  She said the relationship they had with the Louisville Metro Police Department wasn't always like this.

Credit: WHAS-TV
Surveillance video shows a man throwing an object at a window at Lil' Genius Childcare on West Broadway.

"I don't know who our beat officers are," Thompson said. "At one time we would have police officers that would come in and they would attempt to talk to the children just so we could bridge that relationship that kids in this area unfortunately have when it comes to law enforcement. Because it's not always seen in a positive light."

WHAS11 News reached out to LMPD and they said they would need more time to research specific response times. They also said the department is 304 officers short and emergency calls are prioritized and dispatched through MetroSafe. 

"I understand with staffing, if that's just something they aren't able to do I understand that as well," Thompson said. "But what you're able to do is your job, and that job is not getting done."

With metal netting now on every window in the building, Lil Genius will continue to hold out for a change. 

Thompson said they don't plan on moving anytime soon because they serve an important role in early education in the city's west end.

► Contact reporter Jose Alonzo at jalonzo@whas11.com or on Twitter.

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