It’s a lot cheaper to buy a campus parking pass than it is to pay for a parking ticket at Bakersfield College. That’s what some students found out during a recent patrol of parking lots made by college security.
Sgt. Chris Counts gave out four tickets within a few minutes to students who were illegally parked. Each will cost $25. The cost for a semester parking pass is $20.
But campus security involves more then just giving tickets, according to campus security Chief Mark L. Graf.
“Basically the security is to ensure that when people come to get an education, they have a safe place to do it and that they can focus on their education without any distractions,” Graf said.
While campus security officers do not carry guns, they carry pepper spray, a night stick and handcuffs. They can detain a suspect and call Bakersfield Police Department to take custody. Along with 10 security officers, BC is patrolled by BPD Officer Dave Shriver.
“We have enough security. We have as much as is necessary and you’ll find it wherever it’s needed,” said Graf.
Besides officers, BC also has blue call boxes which can be used by anyone on campus to call security. Officers also provide escort service to and from cars. Students can call for escorts at anytime or to report a problem at 395-4554.
” We need security here on campus,” Graf said. “Even though we may not have emergencies to tend to at all times, when there is, we’re here. It’s like car insurance, you may not use it for a couple of years, but when you do get in that accident you are happy you have it. It’s nice to have and in today world, we need it.”