The department of safety’s commitment to students

Public safety: more than a law enforcing organization 

Haley Jacob / Assistant Feature Editor / The USD Vista

While the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is predominantly associated with policy enforcement and campus monitoring, its commitment to building relationships with USD’s student body is one attribute that continues to go unnoticed.

The department aims to ease the nerves of both students and parents when it comes to ensuring safety while away from home. 

Public Safety officer, Reynaldo DeArmos Jr., is a parent himself, and he’s happy to provide comfort and safety assurance to both parties. 

“Doing what I do and as a parent myself, it’s fulfilling being a part of something that reassures parents that we’re here 24/7, and we are dedicated to the campus community only,” DeArmos Jr. said. “Our response time for an emergency around the entire campus is maybe a minute; we can be there pretty quick. We’re here all the time, our students see us, we’re a small department, small campus, so we have personal relationships with a lot of our students, faculty, and staff.” 

Because DPS is the only department on campus that runs 24/7, they are ready and available to be at the aid of students at any given time. 

The department offers an abundance of resources to students for both emergency and non-emergency purposes.

One of these resources is the escort service. In situations where students feel unsafe walking alone on campus, the department offers students the opportunity to call and request for an officer to walk with them or give them a ride to their intended destination. 

Whether a student is heading back from a night class or leaving a friend’s dorm, the officers on campus are there to ensure students feel comfortable and safe. Students can access this resource by calling the department’s number directly or using the “Safety Escort” feature on the MySDMobile app. 

DPS also provides students with access to necessary off-campus resources. In occurances where students need health services and the situation is beyond the department’s aid abilities, they will connect students with an ambulance or hospital to ensure they receive the proper help. 

While these are only a few services of many provided by the department, the main point is that their first and foremost priority is the students and building that trust. 

Ensuring that students are safe and properly taken care of is a much higher priority than disciplining students. 

James Miyashiro, Assistant Vice President of Public Safety, shares his take on the department’s student-focused role on campus. 

“We’re not here as an agency like the San Diego Police Department that’s strictly for enforcement,” Miyashiro said. “We’re here more for the safety of the students to keep them safe, and supporting them in whatever way they can so they can meet their educational goals and graduate and go on and be good people; that’s what we’re here for.”

The Department of Public Safety’s strong commitment to ensuring campus safety reassures parents and students that being away from home doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort and safety. 

As for students, knowing that the   department’s main objective is to provide support and resources in any way during our time here at USD is a relieving feeling. 

The Department of Public Safety aims to expel any apprehension that students may have about reporting or speaking up in harmful or  unsafe situations, especially those involving underage drinking, showing their dedication to make safety come first before any repercussions are carried out.