With the number of students and staff attending College of the Sequoias, it is reasonable to have a Police Department on our campus. Their presence on campus is instrumental in keeping students safe, protecting COS property, and allowing for campus-life to run in an orderly fashion. They handle issues such as ticket citations, theft, vandalism, obstruction of students (where they are prevented from pursuing their education from an outside force), emergencies, and many other issues. Their mission statement aims on, “providing excellent higher education in a spirit of equity for our diverse student population, helping them to achieve their full educational potential regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, ability, culture, religion, and learning modality.”
The District Police claim a commitment to the prevention of crime, the protection of life and property, serving all people with respect, fairness, and compassion, deliver services in a professional manner, having both transparency and accountability, as well as engaging in the collective and individual growth of our diverse community (College of the Sequoias | Police).
Students have shown curiosity for citation policies as well as having concerns of potential threats from groups/individuals that have made students uncomfortable. Sargeant Shane Hettick from the Visalia campus says the most persistently occurring problems on campus so far during this school year are theft from the student bookstore and the food court. He also discusses how bikes and electric scooters are being stolen due to the usage of incorrect locks, stating “whenever a bike is stolen, they are using the wrong lock. They usually use cheap cable locks that can just be cut easily. We are trying to educate students on using heavy duty locks, to prevent theft.”
Sgt. Hettick also encourages students and staff to be aware of their belongings as well. Sgt. Hettick states that, “in attention to the bag [backpack] itself, if you set your backpack down in the library and then go to the restroom, you are assuming that it is going to be there when you get back. In certain instances, [whether it is another student or a person who has entered on the campus] they are able to walk pass and just take it.” Though our campus has multiple cameras, it is advised that students and staff secure or conceal their belongings.
Regarding ticket citations for not having a parking pass, Sgt. Hettick says around 1,000 parking tickets have been issued so far this semester. Sgt. Hettick mentioned that students are given a two-week grace period at the beginning of each semester so that they have a chance to obtain a parking pass. Student workers at the campus police department are the ones issuing citations; however, on occasion a district police member will be called out to help fix a questionable parking situation.
Sgt. Hettick discusses how their system runs license plate numbers to determine who has a parking pass. He also highlights how students can appeal their citation through a website listed on the back of the ticket. In instances where they have purchased a permit but mistakenly input their license plate numbers; the fee is waived. One can view parking violations that can result in a citation on the COS website under parking information (College of the Sequoias | Parking).
Sgt Hettick highlights how this department’s policing is different from what we see in Visalia’s Police Department. He describes their policing as community oriented, where alongside other factors they also host presentations to both staff and students on safety awareness and training for active emergencies, as well as trying to connect and protect students during large events. When it comes to rallies and demonstrations, Sgt. Hettick says officers “do not have a basis for removing said individual/organization from campus as they are exercising their freedom of speech.
The Quad is designated as the area of freedom of speech, so individuals (whether they are preaching or promoting) can express themselves verbally.” Whether it is controversial or not, the district police cannot remove them from campus unless they begin to impede student’s walkways or a physical altercation occurs. Sgt Hettick also mentions if a physical altercation does occur, “Us, as police officers, we have to have a victim to file charges…if something is stolen, but they [the person who it was stolen from] do not care then that is the end of it.” Though it was a crime, if someone does not want to file any charges then the police officers must let it go. However, in some cases (for example: domestic violence) officers must arrest them, nonetheless.
Regarding the recent evacuation on Tuesday evening, February 25th, 2025, at 5:30p.m, students the following day felt uneasy and uncomfortable on campus. The District Police Department assured that students are safe on campus and that their alert system is set up so that all students and staff would be notified of potential threats going forward.
That said, if students have concerns or feel unsafe, they are advised to contact the Campus District Police at (559) 730-3999-. In cases of emergencies, please contact 911. Campus Police email (which is not monitored 24/7) is [email protected]. Their office is in the Blue Oak Building on the Visalia Campus with their office hours being Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 5:00p.m. One can also report suspicious activity anonymously by text, email, or through the smartphone application at TipNow, [email protected], or at (559) 715-2918.
