A distraught student runs to the police department.

She talks to an officer and tells them that she was held at gunpoint and ordered to march with a fellow student in the Humanities Building.

The officer files the report and the police department rolls back the tape.

The student is seen walking side-by-side with the suspect but no gun is in sight.

The police show the student the tape and she comes clean.

The suspect did not really have a gun. The student just made up the story because she did not want her parents to know she was willfully hanging out with the suspect.

Cases like these happen occasionally on campus and with the help of surveillance equipment, it’s made the job much more easier for El Camino’s police department.

Police Chief Michael Trevis said EC has several hundred cameras stationed throughout the campus.

“They’re just about everywhere,” Trevis said. “There are plans to continue expanding a few a more in different places. I’m not in liberty for security reasons to tell you where they’re all at.”

The campus police has had cameras installed since about 2006, before the chief arrived here in 2008, Trevis said.

“Once people realize that there are cameras on campus, they tend to think about committing crimes because you’re on camera,” Trevis said. “We have cameras in the library, for example, and as thefts have occurred, the suspect is clearly seen exiting. In many cases we’re able to identify who the suspect is.”

ECPD networks with other colleges and police agencies to catch criminals off campus. A recent example was a bike thief that was caught at USC.

“We had an individual involved in stealing some bikes,” Trevis said. “We got him on film and were trying to identify him. Turns out USC got him for bike theft. So, we’re sharing this stuff. We’re sending this stuff out to other colleges.”

Body cams and recorders

The issue of body cameras worn by LAPD officers is not mandatory but strongly suggested. ECPD officers do not wear these cameras.

“I am researching that here to see if (body cameras are) something that might be valuable to us; of course there’s budgetary issues involved,” Trevis said. “There has to be upkeep on this.”

ECPD does carry the more financially feasible audio recorders that are worn at all times while an officer is on duty. The estimated cost of these recorders is $1,507.20 over five years, Trevis said.

“Each recorder is roughly $62.80,” Trevis said. “Generally what (I’m told) is we order new ones once every five years.”

School shooting

Former student James Lemus was accused of threatening students and staff last semester. He has gone to court several times about the threats he’s made. As of now, the trial is set to start in the summer, the judge said at his last court date.

“I think regardless of Mr. Lemus or not, the cameras play a role in safety period, whether it’s here on campus or whether it’s at the mall,” Trevis said.

During the first week of this semester, ECPD officers shot an individual in a suicide by cop incident. Trevis said that there are cameras in the parking lot but did not add any more details about the incident.

“The Sheriff’s Department is conducting that investigation and I don’t want to comment on that,” Trevis said. “I would respectfully refer that to the Sheriff’s Department.”

The decision to place said cameras in each location was explained by Community Relations Director Ann Garten.

“Initially, the cameras were put throughout campus in strategic locations as recommended by the police department,” Garten said. “When you tear down one building and build another (like the MBA Building), it’s a completely different floor plan to the others.”

Privacy

Invasion of privacy is not a concern in terms of surveillance, Trevis said.

“These cameras are in open spaces so there is no issue in an open place,” Trevis said. “If you’re in an open public space there might be a camera there now. Naturally, if you’re home or if you’re in the dentist’s office, there’s an expectation of privacy in these places.”

When pressed about the number of cameras per building Trevis “respectfully declined” to comment saying that for security reasons he could not disclose that information.

“I realize that the public has the right to know. I get that and I’m 100 percent for it,” Trevis said. “I also have a duty to protect that same public and I worry about some criminal out there that gets this information and now he or she conducts counter measures.”

The cameras take images and are sent to a central area that are then displayed in the police department and recorded. If suspicious activity is spotted, the police department will send a dispatcher to check out the scene.

“We have dispatchers that see the camera,” Trevis said. “They have this big screen that has all the little shot.”

Public Records Request

A public records request was sent to Chief Trevis for the budget of security cameras at EC as well as the specific number of cameras per building and campus section.

Parker and Covert, the college’s legal representatives, responded with a letter that said they have the right to not disclose certain information under government law.

“Code section 6255 allows the District to withhold records from inspection where the public interest in not disclosing the record clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record, or where the cost of producing the information is unduly burdensome,” according to the letter.

Specific information regarding the number and location of campus security cameras requested was superceded by the right to protect the public according to the letter.

“In this particular case, the District’s interest in law enforcement and protecting the safety and security of the campus, as well as the safety and security of students, staff, and the public on campus, outweighs the public interest,” according to the letter.

Possession of records regarding the specific costs associated with maintaining and operating the security cameras is not available at all according to the letter.

“Records pertaining to the cameras are not maintained separately from other operating budget information. Thus, the cost of locating and producing the information you have requested is unduly burdensome and will not be disclosed.”

However, a rough estimate of the total number of cameras was released.

“EC Chief of Police Michael J. Trevis (said) that the College currently operates more than 150 surveillance cameras on campus,” according to the letter. “All of the security cameras on campus are in plain view.”