CCSF Officials Address Police Vacancies, Campus Safety
The college plans to fill police vacancies and upgrade campus security cameras.
City College of San Francisco is recruiting police officers and upgrading security cameras while college officials say campus safety funding remains stable.
Police Chief Mario Vasquez hopes to hire at least two officers before November and interview sergeant applicants around that time.
Vasquez said the department has 13 sworn police officers, chiefs, two sergeants and 10 police officers. Four police officer positions and two sergeant positions are vacant. He is seeking to change a lieutenant position into a captain position.
The department has 12 campus control aides and four dispatchers, non-sworn police department employees, he said.
The college is improving security at the Evans Center, STEAM Building, Student Success Center and several bungalow buildings.
Vasquez said the department is working with facilities and IT staff to replace old cameras across the district.
Chancellor Kimberlee Messina said the college has budgeted for additional police staff of two.
Safe On Campus
“None have been delayed or denied,” Messina said when asked about the college’s safety requests.
Neither official shared police budget numbers during the interview. They said the budget was stable and offered to send documents by email. Messina said the board approved the budget in September.
At Ocean Campus, Vasquez said a typical day shift includes two officers, a sergeant and himself. A roving officer patrols four City College centers from 1 to 11 p.m. Vasquez confirmed that the officers who rotate between the four centers are sworn police officers employed by the college and can assist at Ocean Campus. Special events or rising crime can lead to overtime or temporary staff changes.
Asked about safety at the Chinatown/North Beach Center, Messina cited elevator problems and concerns about people entering the building from the street. Both officials said they knew of no major incidents there.
Vasquez described one incident involving an unhoused person who was talking loudly or yelling in Chinatown/North Beach Center library. Police contacted the person and addressed the issue, Vasquez said.
Messina said members of the public may enter college facilities as long as they do not disrupt students or create safety problems.
College leaders and center administrators have participated in emergency preparedness training. Training for trustees and additional drills are planned, Messina said. “Students and staff can request escorts to their cars or bus stops at night.”
Vasquez directs readers to the department’s daily log and Clery report.
