Judi King, University Police Lieutenant knows the meaning of campus safety and how one can contribute to their own safety and protection on campus.
"Generally the campus is safer than the surrounding community but crime still occurs on campus and they [students] have to be aware of their surroundings.
There is no guarantee that you won't be a victim of crime. You need to be aware of your surroundings at all time," King said.
Learn to be safe. Park in lighted areas. Don't walk by yourself. All tips King suggests for campus safety.
University Police Sgt. Bonnie Myers, says the campus promotes the use of Community Service Officers to escort students. CSOs are students employed by the campus for additional protection. One needing to get to their car, dorm or other campus location can call campus extension 5-4101.
The hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight; and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
"CSO's wear a uniform. There are two different types. Supervisors wear black shirts and black jackets with University Police on the back. CSO's wear yellow shirts and the same black jacket. A pin-on id is also worn on the front," says Sgt. Myers.
Sgt. Myers outlines three methods of obtaining help or assistance on campus: 1) Use any emergency phone. There are blue lights which are emergency phones in the parking areas which direct connect to the University Police dispatcher; 2) Pay telephones - all are equipped with red buttons that will connect to University Police; 3) Internal telephones, by dialing 9-1-1.
The emergency number on campus is 9-1-1. Dialing 9-1-1 connects directly to the University Police. Elevator phones are also linked directly to the University Police dispatcher.
"Response time is less than one minute to any emergency," Lt. King reports.
"'Crimes of opportunity,' back-pack, motor vehicles and bicycle thefts are the most troublesome problems over the past year," declared Lt. King.
"The first three weeks of school there will be a lot of back pack thefts. Students leave their backpacks outside the bookstore, go in to the bookstore and expect to find it when they return."
Sgt. Myers says her task is to, "make students aware - they have a tendency to be lackadaisical with what they do."
Sgt. Myers contributes to the University 100 course, which is required for all freshmen and transferring students. She covers CSO escort service, theft prevention - backpack, vehicle and bicycle; date-rape drugs; and how to use the Sexual Assault Response Team services.
Asked if campus crime is up or down, Lt. King responded, "Historically our crime rate has been low. We have been able to maintain low crime rate totals essentially by increasing patrols and education."
"We have had some reduction in the number of auto thefts but it is still a problem. Students can help by using all methods of security on their car and by not leaving objects in plain sight," Lt. King said.
Sgt. Myers emphasized, "we do not have a problem with the date rape drug, 'roofies', but because students are now in a social environment they need to be aware that it is a social problem."
"Students need to be responsible if they are drinking. Designate a driver," she added. "They need to know the sus-ceptiblity of these things."
"If a student or member of their party are in need of emergency medical treatment, they need to be aware of the Sex Assault Response Team. It is run out of Long Beach Community Hospital.
The University Police have been involved for two years. The team is comprised of a forensic nurse, University Police, district attorney, and a counselor/rape advocate," Myers said.
A rape victim in the City of Long Beach might be transferred to Community Hospital, where they would be transferred to the SART room. The SART team would then be activated. "This program takes the victim out of the ER and puts them in a very privatized atmosphere," Myers said.