Editor-in-Chief
As CSU Bakersfield’s University Police Department works to keep the campus safe, UPD Chief of Police Marty Williamson stopped by to speak to the Associated Students Inc. board about security at CSUB.
“Our role here is to support student education, and our role is to provide the safest and secure campus we can for the students to get educated, faculty to teach and staff to work,” said Williamson.
Williamson addressed the board noting that enforcement is not the only role that the UPD plays at CSUB.
Williamson said that being part of the campus community and reaching out to knock down barriers within the community they protect is something they aim to do.
“I’m really pushing our officers to get out. Hopefully, you’ve seen our bike patrols are back out again…I’m trying to get them out of those cars,” said Williamson. “Cars are a necessity. That’s where we carry all of our equipment but it’s really hard to talk to people, it’s hard to socialize with people, so I’m really striving to move forward.”
Williamson also talked about the recent incident on campus where students were inappropriately touched and mentioned how having the right team available made locating the perpetrator easier.
“It’s really great to see that we had that type of a priority call… and everybody pulled off what they were doing and within…minutes we had six officers there, so if it had been a bigger incident we were well equipped,” said Williamson.
Williamson was asked how many cameras are installed at CSUB but was unsure as to the exact number of cameras on campus.
“We don’t have a lot, not compared to other campuses,” said Williamson.
Williamson has proposed that more cameras be added around campus but is unable to at the moment.
“I’ve got areas where I do want to add cameras, but right now due to union negotiations, I’m at a standstill,” said Williamson. “I’m not able to proceed in installing cameras on the campus right now. I don’t know when I’m going to get permission to install the cameras that are already planned on campus.”
Williamson has about eight cameras that he has the authorization to install and has funding for, but can not yet install.
“What I’m looking for is placing the cameras in strategic locations such as along the red brick road on each side of DDH, where we have high traffic areas,” said Williamson.
Williamson said that community service officers at that the library and the student union to provide escort services and to help provide additional security on campus.
“They are not cops, but they are out eyes and ears and if they see anything the call the radio,” said Williamson. “It’s a lot cheaper than me paying for an officer there.”
Williamson mentioned how his goal is to have CSOs or officers available within five minutes.
Williamson informed the board about the upcoming Rape Aggression Defense class that are offered from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
“RAD is a comprehensive self-defense course for women intended to teach realistic self-defense tactics and techniques,” according to the UPD flyer.
Women get to practice their self-defense skills on UPD officers who are padded in a foam suit.
Williamson also talked about the recent Coffee with a Cop event where students and staff stopped by to talk to UPD officers this past week.
Williamson mentioned that they are trying to do this more often and would like to set up this event with student housing.
