Ray of light

Task Force on Campus Safety

Background

Recent events around the country and world have further illuminated a host of historic inequities and injustices within society. We have heard the voices calling for change and are prepared to respond with informed action. How we secure our campus and ensure safety are areas that many agree warrant a comprehensive review. UC Riverside is fortunate to have a highly professional police department consisting of caring individuals, many of whom are UCR graduates. But we have a responsibility to ask challenging and fundamental questions about campus safety writ-large and how it aligns with our campus mission and values.

To begin that process, Chancellor Wilcox has appointed a Campus Safety Task Force comprised of students, staff, faculty, and community members, to advise on how we might improve safety, and the feeling of safety, for all members of the UCR community. I have asked this group to take a broad perspective on this assignment, seeking advice on budget, recruitment of officers, training, weapons, use of force, uniforms, community engagement, and oversight. 

Charge

The Task Force will review our overall campus safety efforts, focusing primarily on operation of the UCR Police Department and its relationship to other entities on campus and throughout the community. Given the breadth of this charge, the Task Force is free to prioritize topics that they believe to be more important, and not feel compelled to spend equal amounts of time on all aspects of the police department

Task Force Membership
  • Jack Clarke, Jr. (Chair), Partner, Best Best and Krieger
  • Luis Huerta, ASUCR President
  • Angelica Garcia, ASUCR Vice President of Internal Affairs
  • Nichi Yes, Graduate Student Association President
  • Judit Palencia Gutierrez, Graduate Student Association Vice President 
  • Jason Stajich, Chair, Faculty Senate and Professor of Microbiology & Plant Pathology
  • Thomas Smith, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
  • Mariam Lam, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Brian Haynes, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
  • Dennis McIver, President, Staff Assembly 
  • Wade Stern, President, UCR Police Officer Association 
  • Michelle Burroughs, Member, UCR Black Faculty & Staff Association
  • Alton Carswell, Case Manager, Student Affairs
  • John Freese, Interim Police Chief
  • Kim Overdyck, Senior Investigator, Chief Compliance Office
  • Bert Wright, Immediate Past President, UCR Black Alumni 
  • Hon. Jorge Hernandez, Riverside County Superior Court Judge  
  • Keona Henderson, President, UCR Black Alumni
  • Sharon Oselin, Associate Professor of Sociology and Public Policy (on sabbatical during winter quarter)
Staff Support
  • Christine Victorino, Associate Chancellor 
  • David Bergquist, Chief Campus Counsel
  • Megan Johnson, Administrative Specialist

Timeline

September 2020: Task Force Established


January-March 2021: Preliminary Recommendations (Draft Task Force Report | Feedback from Academic Senate | Feedback from Graduate Student Association | Feedback from CHASS Executive Committee)


February-March 2021: Finalize Report and Recommendations for Implementation (Final Report | Message to Campus


March 2021: Begin Implementation of Recommendations


Wednesday, 10/14 at 9:30 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes


Thursday, 10/29 at 1 p.m. | Agenda | Minutes


Thursday, 11/12 at 3 p.m. (Town Hall) | AgendaTown Hall Recording  (Passcode: 5qM#35y3) | Minutes


Wednesday, 11/25 at 1 p.m. | Agenda | Minutes


Thursday, 12/10 at 2 p.m. | Agenda | MinutesRestorative Justice Presentation (Passcode: @Cba?53m)


Friday, 12/18 at 4 p.m. | Agenda | Minutes


Friday, 1/8 at 2 p.m. | Agenda | Minutes


Friday, 1/22 at 4 p.m | Agenda


Wednesday, 2/3 at 2 p.m | Faculty & Subject Matter Experts (Passcode: MN=M5ZyQ)


Thursday, 2/4 at 3 p.m. | Student Feedback Meeting (Passcode: 0HET+K.#) 


Friday, 2/5 at 11 a.m. | Campus Safety Task Force Town Hall | Recording (Passcode: vv6&^sS)