By Damariz Arevalo, Jan. 28, 2025
Cal Poly Pomona updated its 2025 safety plan during winter break to increase elements of campus safety,such as parking, emergency preparedness and a resource hub for students, staff and faculty.
The University Police Department are going to implement more safety steps to provide a safe and secure environment for all on-campus properties such as adding more bicycle patrolmen and creating bike paths safer for student’s people on campus and being more prepared in case of any shooter or natural disasters. Parking structures will be taking more steps to provide a safer place by adding more lights and a plate reader system.
Since 2023, 15 vehicles have been broken into inside CPP campus, according to CPP Annual Security Report. And to enhance a safer campus the lighting in parking structures will be upgraded to brighter and more efficient LED fixtures.
UPD will be establishing a Public Safety Specialist bicycle patrol program to increase patrols and have easier access to any situations. In addition, CPP will initiate a campus-wide project by removing two trees at the Kellogg and University intersection, including trimming of hedges and ornamental grasses around Parking Structure 2 and Parking Lot K.
There will also be a new license plate recognition system implemented in which mobile license plate readers will enhance parking operations, criminal activity and aid in criminal investigations.
Mike Yu, a director of Parking and Transportation Services at CPP, wants students to know the system is only intended for parking permit compliance and its secondary use is to keep track of unusual activities regarding a vehicle.
The way LPR System would be used is that it would keep track if a vehicle has been on campus without a parking permit multiple times or it has been left abandoned on campus. The system can also be used to aid in any criminal investigation. If a vehicle has been involved in a crime, the LPR system can help recognize it, according to Yu.
Yu is advising students to remember not to leave any valuable items, like a laptop, backpack or purse, in their vehicles, especially when it is visible.
“If you see someone tampering with a vehicle in any particular way, say something,” said Yu.
“Be aware of your surroundings, and if you feel uncomfortable or it’s late at night, give PD a call,” said Arlett Carmona, the manager and continuity coordinator of Emergency Management and Business.
Additionally, the new Report@CPP website allows students, staff and faculty to provide information or ask for assistance when it comes to experiencing concerns regarding discrimination, academic dishonesty, threatening behavior and sexual violence.
Report @CPP is continuously monitored by a triage team that sends reports to corresponding team members depending on what the report consists of, and the response time should be prompt, according to Jose de Jesus Plasencia Jr, Lieutenant of UPD.
“If it is life-threatening or an exigent circumstance that you call 911 or 3070, and if your life is in danger, you call those numbers directly to get an immediate response from the police department,” said Plasencia.
The number 3070 is short for 909-869-3070. It is a direct line to the UPD and provides police service 24 hours a day to the campus community. The numbers 3070 and 911 can be dialed from any campus landline or by using the Code Blue Phones on campus. If a cell phone is used to call 911 it will go to Pomona PD and the response will be longer
There will also be an increase in the number of Code Blue phones at the University Village in the next two years, according to the safety plan.
Also planned within the next two years is the “Bronco Ready Preparedness Academy,” where participants will have comprehensive training, hands-on exercises and expert guidance for any emergency response and disaster readiness such as active shooters, earthquakes or fires. It does work around the Run, Hide, Fight method, which is also used for active shooter training skills. It is open to the entire campus community.
Anyone in the campus community can request training and demonstrations through the emergency management website. It includes active shooter training, natural disasters and other emergencies.
Carmona emphasized the importance of personal preparedness. She said often times, in an emergency, it is hard to react, like not knowing where to quickly enter and exit a building,
“In the evacuation drills, we tell people to take it seriously because the way you enter the building is not necessarily the quickest way out,” said Carmona.
The preceding changes in the next 18 months also include the Workplace Prevention Plan, which outlines CPP’s response to workplace violence reports, resources for prevention and how to address certain situations.
Additional safety tips for students include having a go kit ready for any emergencies. The go kit is a supply list that one may need such as toiletries, medicines, clothes and a flashlight.
Feature image courtesy of Scotty Ninh
