By: Jesus Zesati
Police presence is not essential or vital on an empty campus.
On November 13, the Los Angeles Community College District announced it is seeking new security services after concluding their 19 year contract with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department due to the current COVID-19 pandemic we are experiencing.
The LASD and LACCD have failed to reach an agreement on an extended contract providing campus safety, “In light of the current COVID-19 environment” stated LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez.
The sheriff’s department services run the LACCD in excess of over $25 million dollars to have them patrol all nine campuses efficiently.
This will come to an end effective December 31.
The sheriff’s deputies who were part of the security services at the community colleges will now be reassigned to fill in vacant spots within their department. The pandemic has forced online classes upon students.
The LACCD is the largest community college district in the United States.
It is one of the largest in the world, with nine different colleges within the district offering educational opportunities to students in Los Angeles. A sheriff station is located within each community college in California.
This enables services to be provided in order to maintain the college campus safe.
The result being that policing is no longer crucial on an empty campus.
Instead, the money should be used to seek new resources to help students who struggle with online learning and give opportunities to other services that don’t require so much money.
Online classes are much more difficult now than usual.
Having meetings through zoom and forcing students into a new style of learning.
Asynchronous learning is more self directed or basically an online education.
The synchronous style or aspect is group learning oriented.
Although, there are no students or faculty on campus it is important to keep watch of the community colleges to prevent any possible illegal activities.
The pandemic has shocked and put many of us in an uncomfortable situation by having to learn online.
COVID-19 is an on-going crisis at the moment and it certainly doesn’t appear that it will be coming to a halt anytime soon.
In my opinion, during this time if any supervision is needed it would be better to have LACCD cadets to do the job because a lot of money would be saved and it helps them gain some experience of patrolling.
Nevertheless, we are in the midst of severe circumstances there are many restrictions and rules that will need to be followed and adhered to avoid the spread of the virus.
Those who will be in charge of providing security services for the community colleges will need to be held to a high standard of accountability and follow all safety protocols.
Another possible solution would be to enhance the security camera footage and surveillance.
As long as classes are online, there shouldn’t be so much money being spent when there isn’t much going on.
Sheriffs are being paid to supervise a whole semester with no students or faculty being present on campus and will not plan on returning until the Spring 2021 semester.