LBCC has implemented a safety initiative called the Campus Safety Escort Program in which campus security is made available to walk students from their classes to their cars after their evening classes.
A report on campus safety made during a Board of Trustees meeting in September showed that crime rates have been on a downward trend since 2019, and a majority of the crimes reported were against LBCC property.
In the report, Brandon Deis, a lieutenant at LBPD, said there was a 29% decrease in crime when compared to last year’s figures.
“A majority of incidents that are reported to police are not always crime,” Deis said. “Some are things we wanted to document like arguments and disputes that we wanted to make sure everyone is aware of.”
The Safety Escort program goes unnoticed by many students and is a tool for all staff and students.
The service can be requested by calling the number 562-938-4100 and is in operation Monday through Friday from 6-11 p.m.
Jonathan Allen, a police officer who works in the LBCC Public Safety department, said the program should be more publicized so that more students know about it.
“Students do call, whenever students need us they usually call late at night,” Allen said.
Ashby Johnson is a senior that attends a night class at the Trade Tech and Community Learning Campus, formerly known as PCC, for extra credit and was not aware of the campus safety initiative.
While Johnson feels comfortable at TTC while taking a nighttime class, the experience was different at other colleges.
“I have been approached at Cal State Long Beach when walking from my high school to the bus stop by people trying to get me into their dorms,” Johnson said. “It made me very uneasy.”
Many students feel at ease knowing there is someone they can turn to should they have a need to.
“I would definitely tell my friends who are coming here next semester about this program,” Johnson said.
“I would love it if she used the program, ”said LBCC student Daniel Lopez, whose daughter is also a student.
“It’s safer, I think now my kids and somebody else’s are going to feel protected,” Lopez said.
Lopez recommends this program to students, especially young women who are scared of walking to their car alone in the dark.