By Anthony Frisbee, contributing writer
Upon being appointed chief of police at Cal State Fullerton, I met with the Titan community and told them that progress is impossible without genuine and transparent change.
My team and I have embarked on a journey to become the model of policing within the CSU system and nationally by listening to the community and implementing tangible structural changes to enhance safety for all Titans. Together, we are deconstructing the historic safety system at the university, which relies upon the police to respond to nonviolent and noncriminal calls for service.
This academic year, we are excited to introduce two new transformational safety tiers at CSUF, including the newly developed Campus Safety Specialists (unarmed civilians) and the CAPS Crisis Mobile Response Team. Our safety professionals will begin responding to calls not involving violence or crime to assist your dedicated CSUF police officers who responded to over 8,500 calls-for-service, including over 3,000 emergency (911) calls already this year.
CSUF PD Campus Safety Specialists (CSS), are unarmed full-time personnel, who will respond to calls-for-service such as door unlocks, building checks, safety escorts, noise complaints, mental health crisis, and much more. The new CSS team members are receiving advanced training in crisis response, de-escalation, communication, and DEI.
Additionally, in collaboration with CSUF Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), a new CAPS Crisis Mobile Response Team is being established to respond to Titans in crisis on campus. The team will be led by a CAPS-licensed professional staff member and supported by a campus safety specialist. CAPS is recruiting two new mobile crisis response professionals to start responding in 2024.
Our officers, dispatchers, campus safety specialists, administrative support, and student community service officers are honored to serve more than 41,000 students and an additional 4,000 faculty and staff…
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