'We work with you and for you, not against you'

By Johanna Mitchell

Several years ago, Campus Safety officer Millie De Bie was patrolling campus when she heard a voice coming from a window in Dunne Residence Hall.

"He said, 'Hey, there's that hot Campus Safety chick,' " she remembers. De Bie kept walking toward Swig Residence Hall, where another male student expressed a very different remark, ending in an expletive.

Her response?

"I'll be here all week!" she replied, waving her hand in the air.

A sense of humor is necessary, De Bie said, when you work in a profession where enforcing the rules is your job.

De Bie is one of 20 officers who keep watch over Santa Clara's roughly 100-acre campus, and for whom the term "full time" takes on a new meaning: Campus Safety is the only department on campus that works 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

Shifts are divided into 12-hour blocks, which means each team is designated a regular night or day shift.

"It's like working two different jobs," said officer Tracy Cox, who has worked for Campus Safety for seven years and prefers the night shift, where he can interact more closely with students.

After leading the security team at Kaiser Santa Teresa Hospital for over a decade, Cox has seen his share of trauma. He told the story of the time he was the first on the scene when a student stabbed himself in the arm with a sword almost nonchalantly, a testament to the unique constitution the profession requires.

Problem-solving skills, adequate writing skills and the ability to identify and respond to common campus issues are key attributes that Phil Beltran, assistant director of Campus Safety, said he looks for in the hiring process.

Applicants need only have a high school diploma, though Beltran said many of the officers hold college degrees. A strong candidate will also have background in security, he said.

"We are looking for the best fit, and it's not always about experience," said Beltran, who looks closely at a candidate's character traits, such as the ability to multi-task and a knack for working with young people.

Candidates who survive the first round of basic interviews are required to give an oral presentation and submit to an extensive background test detailing their criminal record, credit history and work history.

As many as 30 applicants usually apply to become officers when an opening becomes available, which, on average, occurs about twice a year, said Beltran.

Some officers view their time with campus safety as a stepping stone toward a career in law enforcement, said watch commander Mike Brady, who is on the hiring committee with Beltran and Director Charlie Arolla.

Brady received a graduate degree from Santa Clara School of Law in 1999, but said he intends to stay with Campus Safety, which he has been a part of for the past 17 years.

"I thought it would be temporary," Brady said with a smile. "Once you get past a certain number of years, you have already made a decision, whether you wanted to or not."

Dan Ruiz is the newest officer to join the Campus Safety ranks. He spent the last five years as site security manager for Siebel Systems as well as guard for founder, chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Siebel before the company merged with Oracle Corporation.

After completing a six-month field training program, Ruiz has now become the fourth member of a day shift team that rotates every three hours between dispatch, cover and two patrol positions.

While on patrol, officers utilize vehicles from Campus Safety's arsenal of trucks, electric carts and bicycles.

Starting in February, officers will also be able to use two recently purchased Segway vehicles, which are currently being outfitted with headlights for night patrols.

"Family" is a word Phil Beltran uses to describe the Campus Safety staff, which encompasses a wide range of ages -- from 20-somethings to 70 year olds.

De Bie is one of only two women who serve as officers in a commonly male-dominated profession.

"You have to leave your girly-girl at the door," said De Bie.

Many officers say the best part of the career can also be the worst; helping young people with the dangers of substance abuse and cautioning about the risks of living on an open campus can be challenging.

"We have a job to do, and it's all for the good of your safety and well-being," said Ruiz. "We work with you and for you, not against you."

Contact Johanna Mitchell at (408) 554-4546 or jjmitchell@scu.edu.