COCC Public Safety Department earns award

Central Oregon Community College’s Campus Public Safety Department has received the Western Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Department of the Year award.

The association represents higher education, security, public safety and police departments in six states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Northern California) and the province of British Columbia.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for the college and its Public Safety Department,” said Matt McCoy, COCC’s vice president for administration. “The members of the department have worked hard over the past several years to provide a safer environment on all our campuses, becoming better trained and earning certifications in key public safety areas.This recognition is well deserved.”

The award is bestowed on the university or community college public safety department that has “demonstrated exceptional, modern, standard-setting practices during the year,” meeting “the goals of the department and being a leader in supporting the mission of the institution … creating a safe environment for their higher education community through the use of innovative techniques, strategies and community policing principles.”

For information, call Jim Bennett, interim director of Campus Public Safety, at 541-383-7733.