Keeping the campus safe

Despite a rise in campus crime, Pierce remains safe thanks to dedicated professionals

Lior Haykeen / Roundup

On a college campus the size of some small towns, two sheri ’s deputies aided by 13 security ocers and 11 cadets are commi ed to keeping the peace.

Half way through the semester, Pierce employees and students have already been exposed to a bookstore manager accused of embezzlement, a burglarized office, arrests, and thefts.

“With the economy going down and people losing their jobs, it wouldn’t surprise me if [crime rates] go up,” said Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Nohles.

During September there has been a 25 percent rise in thefts, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD).

“Petty thefts are crimes of opportunity,” said Nohles. “People leave cells, purses and wallets, and other people take them.”

“For the size we are, I think we’re one of the schools with the lowest crime rates.”

Do we feel safe here?

The sheriffs and cadets take different roles to ensure our safety.

While cadets enforce parking laws and issue parking tickets, the sheriffs are called when a vehicle burglary or vandalism take place.

Cadets lock and unlock doors, help out at the Sheriff’s office and escort disabled students.

Sheriffs, however, search and chase after suspects, enforce criminal laws and pass on information to Los Angeles Police Department and other detectives.

“We’re here to keep the staff and students safe,” said Nohles.

The campus’ sheriffs and cadets makes some students safe.

“There’s always someone to help you at the Sheriff’s office,” said Danielle Dagan, Pierce student. “The cadets are always around campus, and, if you look, there’ll always be someone there to ask for help.

Safety: Sheriff's Security Officer Bryan Chavez poses outside the Sheriff's Office in a patrol car. He has worked on campus for one year and five months. He said the hardest part of the job is going home.

Jose Romero / Roundup

Blue lights

The 26 security personnel cannot cover every part of the campus at all times. For this reason, the school has developed the emergency blue phone system, a campuswide access and emergency line meant to keep the safety of students and staff.

Commonly referred to as ‘blue lights,’ the phones are actually large blue poles with the word ‘emergency’ printed on their sides, and a red button accompanied by the words ‘push for help’ in the center.

There are 21 blue phones spread throughout campus, which are available for students’ use around the clock.

The Sheriff’s Office receives at least one call from a blue phone on campus every couple of days, according to Nohles.

Even so, most of the calls are from lost students looking for directions and information.

Once the red button is pushed, the call is transferred directly to the Sheriff’s Office, where the operator is notified of the caller’s location.

Then, the sheriffs make sure that the caller is no longer in danger, make a report and start looking for the suspect reported.

“People usually come up to the Sheriff’s office to complain about crime, they don’t know that it’s much easier to just push the [red] button,” said Nohles.

Watching cameras

Hidden cameras are not a part of campus security. They are not monitored around the clock, but only when deputies or security officers find the time to look at them, according to Nohles.

“People are programmed to know that everywhere they go they are on camera,” said Nohles.

Although visible security cameras are common, there are several parts of campus that entirely