District to Disband Committee Studying College Campus Police

The Los Angeles Community College District is disbanding a committee formed by its chancellor to study the effectiveness of campus police, which created uneasiness among the officers that they might be replaced by private guards.

Chancellor Donald Phelps said in a memo sent to committee members Thursday that he will instead ask the district board of trustees to hire an outside consultant “for the purpose of looking at our police and safety needs.”

“The establishment of this committee has raised a number of concerns among college police captains, the police union leadership, and rank and file officers,” Phelps said in the memo. “Apparently, the purpose and intent of the committee charge has been misunderstood and the composition of the committee also is being questioned.”

At the trustees’ Nov. 18 board meeting, Phelps had announced the formation of the committee, headed by Vice Chancellor Neil Yoneji, to study the economics of campus police on the district’s nine campuses.

That announcement came on the same day that Pierce College’s student newspaper published a front-page story quoting “undisclosed sources” as saying that Phelps intended to propose that the 127-member district police force be replaced with private guards.

Phelps immediately denied that allegation.

“The police are just one of the big-ticket items that raise concerns in our budgets,” said Fausto Capobianco, district public information director. “We are under an emergency situation in terms of our budget. We got off well this year. But next year, we expect worse cuts.”

Despite the denial, the possibility that the force could be disbanded brought swift reaction from the police union.

“I wish I knew why he is doing this,” said Al Reddick, a Pierce College police officer who heads the district’s chapter of the American Federation of Teachers College Police Guild. “We have gone seven out of the last 10 years without raises. For us to come under this kind of scrutiny is unfair.”

Erica Hauck, a Valley College student who is the student representative on the district board of trustees, said even if it was not Phelps’ intent to replace the district’s police officers with private guards, “rumors start,” resulting in morale problems among the officers.

Reddick said he is pleased the committee will be disbanded, but will ask the board of trustees to consider appointing a commission of outside law enforcement professionals to review district police operations.

He also will ask that a campus police captain and a lieutenant, along with himself, have a voice in choosing commission members.

“I would be relatively certain that any consultant who would be brought in would most assuredly have a very credible background in law enforcement,” Capobianco said.

Phelps could not be reached for comment, but in his memo he said college police “are performing in an exemplary manner. My personal observations lead me to believe that our police captains provide quality leadership and the college safety and security services are appreciated by our students and district employees.

“However, as we begin budget planning for 1993-94, it is essential that we look at all support services of the district.”