The
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District is negotiating a contract with
the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department to provide police services at
Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, a move that will improve coverage on the two
East County campuses and provide access to the department’s specialized units.
The contract is
expected to be brought to the district’s Governing Board when it meets at 6:30
p.m. July 23 at the Cuyamaca College Student Center. If approved, a sheriff’s
sergeant will be stationed at the district, along with a team of deputies
dedicated to each of the two campuses. Additional assistance will be provided
by other sheriff’s deputies and specialists as needed.
“The recent
shootings at Santa Monica College once again emphasize how vitally important it
is for our campuses to have the most comprehensive police and emergency
protection possible,” Chancellor Cindy L. Miles said. “This agreement with the
Sheriff’s Department is the best way to ensure the safety and security of our
students and employees, which is absolutely our top priority.”
The district
administration decided to consider partnering with the Sheriff’s Department
after three assessments of the Public Safety Department by the district’s risk
management and insurance carrier, a former El Cajon police chief and the
Sheriff’s Department.
“Our Public Safety
Department has done an excellent job, but it simply does not have the capacity
to provide the tremendous range of law enforcement and emergency preparedness
services that our campuses must have 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Miles
said. “We've been lucky not to have a major incident, but, unfortunately,
college campuses these days can be scenes of some of the worst kinds of crime.
Not only do we need to provide a safe environment for people to learn and work,
we also must look after our child development centers and thousands of campus
visitors each year. The Governing Board and the district have an immense
responsibility to keep our campus community as safe as possible.”
As a result of the
proposed agreement with the Sheriff’s Department, each campus would have
dedicated deputies onsite, plus other deputies at the Santee and Rancho San
Diego substations would be familiar with the Grossmont and Cuyamaca College
campuses to assist in an emergency. The district also will have ready access to
Sheriff’s Department specialized units that investigate crimes such as illegal drug
sales, domestic violence, hate crimes, auto theft or gang-related crime.
Campus services such
as parking enforcement, safety escorts and room unlocks will be handled by
campus services personnel working for the district. Current district police
officers who meet Sheriff’s Department standards will be offered jobs, and all
others will be invited to join the district’s campus assistance and parking
services.
The district is
currently negotiating the contract with the Sheriff’s Department, but it is expected
to cost less than the district would spend to provide the additional staffing,
training, specialized investigative expertise, and equipment to meet escalating
campus law enforcement and emergency preparedness needs.
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