On Friday, June 28, the GWC Leadership and Ethics Institute (LEI) held its third symposium on ethical issues impacting leadership. The subject for this symposium was Campus Safety: The Ethics of Leadership in Planning for the Worst Case Scenario. Over 100 community leaders, members of law enforcement, campus administrators, faculty and staff, attended the symposium in a large forum classroom.
Colleen Preciado, GWC Academy Coordinator for the Special Investigator Course, and retired Chief Probation Officer, was the moderator for the day. The half-day event began with welcoming statements by Dr. Lorraine Prinsky, President, CCCD Board of Trustees, Scott Lay, President, Community College League, Jan Bullard, Director, Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T), Wes Bryan, President, Golden West College, and Ron Lowenberg, Director/Dean of the Criminal Justice Training Center and School of Nursing.
A panel of four highly experienced leaders in school and public safety was assembled for this symposium (pictured left to right in the above photo):
- Chief David L. Maggard, Jr. has been the chief of police for the City of Irvine since 2003, and is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He is proud to serve with a highly committed team of law enforcement professionals who together have received national awards in the areas of technology and criminal investigations. Chief Maggard serves on the Irvine Public Schools Foundation’s Advisory Council and is a member of the Orange County Human Relations Commission.
- Dr. Arthur Cummins is an administrator for the Orange County Department of Education. He currently oversees Instructional Services Division Learning Support – Safe & Healthy Schools. His expertise in safe and healthy schools and emergency preparedness has developed over the past two decades. He just returned from the White House where he participated in developing Best Practices for School Safety.
- Captain Steve Alegre is responsible for public safety services at the University of Southern California (USC). He is no stranger to law enforcement, having served over 30 years as a police officer in the cities of Santa Ana, Corona, and Los Angeles Police Departments before “retiring” to take on the new challenges of campus public safety at USC.
- Director Jon Arnold is the Director of Public Safety at Golden West College. He retired as a Captain with the Huntington Beach Police Department after serving over 30 years and was awarded both the Medal of Valor and Medal of Merit. Jon spent time in the private sector as a vice president with a homeland security company. He served as security manager for the Orange County Superior Court System and at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
These security experts shared their experiences in preventing and managing serious critical threats. They stressed the importance of planning and training, and shared the current state of preparedness in their areas of operation and their plans for improvement. Chief Maggard described the collaboration between the Irvine Police Department and the schools by providing education, training and protection. Dr. Cummins said the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy was a game changer for school safety best practices, prompting action at a National level. Captain Alegre emphasized the challenge to create a secure environment without the institution feeling like a prison. Jon Arnold informed us of the fact that 60% of the safety officers at California Community Colleges are armed, sworn police officers, and 40% (including CCCD) hire unarmed civilian public safety officers.
The second half of the symposium was dedicated to a Q&A session moderated by Colleen Preciado, which included audience participation.
Click here for full video of symposium
The Leadership and Ethics Institute (LEI) was established in 2008 by leaders and colleagues of the GWC Criminal Justice Training Center. LEI promotes the study, research and practice of principled leadership and unwavering ethics.
