Dad of slain Auburn student, ex-police chief face off in hearing

MONTGOMERY, AL — Two men who formed a bond amid the tragedy of a college student's murder found themselves on opposite sides in a hearing room in Alabama.
 
The hearing was for the 2008 murder of Auburn University student Lauren Burk of Cobb County.
 
It involved a metro Atlanta family and Auburn University but was held at the capitol in Montgomery. 
 
Channel 2's Mark Winne was told the State Board of Adjustment is hearing the claim filed because by the state constitution, state agencies like the university are immune from suits for financial damages.
 
"I want to keep Lauren's memory alive. I want to make sure Auburn improves their security," said Lauren Burk's father, Jim Burk.
 
Jim Burk said he considers former Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson one of his closest friends, as a result of the tragedy they fought through together.
 
"You'll never know how it is to live with this case, and I'll always question if I personally could've done something better. And again, I apologize to Jim and Vivian," Dawson said.
 
The retired police chief and Jim Burk were on two sides of a hearing before a state board in Montgomery, Alabama with which Jim Burk has brought a $1 million claim against Auburn University.
 
"It had nothing to do with money! That was the only way to get somebody's attention," Jim Burk said.
           
Atlanta lawyer Drew Findling said the family believes the 2004 merger of the campus police department into the Auburn City Police in a budget move made the campus where Lauren Burk was a freshman less safe when she was abducted by Courtney Lockhart, who was later convicted of her murder.
 
"She's on a table with a white sheet and a plastic thing in her mouth and she was gone," Jim Burk said. "I kissed her forehead and I said, 'You look like an angel.'"
 
Dawson said he feels like police presence on campus has increased.
 
"I just feel like it's a more adequate police force, better trained," Dawson said. "When they merged, I thought it was a good idea and I still do to this day. If I didn't, like I said, I'd be shouting from the rooftops to get something changed."

WSBTV