November 4, 2009
by Charlene Jones | Staff Writer
A recent police shooting in response to a violent disturbance at Sacramento State University where a student was fatally beaten has refocused attention on City College security and emergency preparedness, including an alert system.
“The district has a contract with the WARN [Wide Area Rapid Notification] system,” said Robert Martinelli, City College vice president of administrative services. “We are attempting to have the system fielded for the spring semester, 2010.”
Each LRCCD college has assembled a team to build implementation policies and procedures for the emergency service that can disseminate timely information.
“[WARN] notification can happen through cell phone alerts, text messages or e-mail depending on how students and staff ‘opt into’ the system,” Martinelli said.
Student reactions to the emergency alert system were varied.
“I think they [police] try their best to make sure every student feels safe,” said communications major Isi Oma. “I think because most kids are checking their email and their texts …That kind of alert would be very beneficial to our safety.”
City College student Vladimir Ninov said he feels safe but is not sure about electronic alerts. “Whenever it becomes an emergency, just to have easier access to call the police department here …it would help a lot.”
While there have been no shootings at City College, there have been many cases where officers have confronted individuals carrying weapons on campus, according to Los Rios Police Department Sgt. Brian Washington.
Despite new notification systems, security resources may be considered slim for a district with more than 90,000 students and only 29 police officers. If an incident were to happen at City College, officers would respond capably, Washington said.
However, unlike Sac State officers, LRPD officers are not authorized or equipped to use less-than-lethal force, like tasers or pepper spray balls, before firing weapons in a situation similar to the Sac State shooting, according to Washington.
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