Public Safety Department and Emergency Preparedness

District Dispatch
Answered 24/7/365

760-341-2111

In case of a Life

 Threatening Emergency 

Dial 9-1-1

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It is the policy of the College Board of Trustees to protect the members of the college community and to protect the property of the Desert Community College District. Under the general direction of the Vice President of Administrative Services, and the Director of Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness the College of the Desert Public Safety Department shall ensure that reasonable protection is provided by using methods that fit within the educational philosophy and process of the college and California Ed Code.     

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Locations

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Public Safety Officers

College Of The Desert Public Safety Officers are non-sworn. Public Safety Department Officers are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Officers patrol campuses routinely to ensure as safe and secure an environment as possible via foot patrols, bicycle, golf carts and patrol units.  

• Our goal is to assist students with their educational success while at  College of the Desert.

• To provide services that adhere to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Continue to provide evidence based policing policies and practices

Public Safety Officers perform regular, non-emergency duties including parking enforcement, traffic control, supervision and assistance with COD functions and special events; public escorts; assisting public with parking violations; securing COD parking lots and buildings; jumpstarts and lockouts for vehicles; and special assignments.

Our dispatch is P.O.S.T. certified and receives and transmits routine and emergency calls for service.  Dispatch coordinates and exchanges information with other local Emergency Service Agencies.

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California Community Colleges Police Training Reform

"Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, the Chancellor issued a call to action to the California Community Colleges that encompassed six major areas of work, including a system wide review of law enforcement officers and first responder training and curriculum, open dialogue to address campus climate, campus audits to support the creation of inclusive classrooms and anti-racism curriculum, and updating district equity plans with urgency."  

College of the Desert Public Safety Department strives each day to adhere to principles of diversity, inclusion, and equity to contribute to our campus community's success.  Our mission of "To Protect and Serve with Honor and Integrity" are the building blocks of establishing and maintaining a rapport with our students, staff and community members.  It is important to our department to assist our campus community in feeling secure while studying and working on our campuses. 

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Working with Local Law Enforcement

The Desert Community College District has Memorandums of Understanding with Riverside County Sheriff's, Palm Springs Police, Indio Police, Cathedral City Police, and Desert Hot Springs Police Departments.  These MOU's provide the department with assistance for incidents requiring specialized resources and expertise. These MOU's also provide the guidelines for Public Safety to assist municipal  law enforcement in providing any Vehicle Code violations, and complete investigations of all criminal and traffic cases that occur in those specific campuses.

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Lost and Found Items

The Public Safety Department safe keeps all Lost and Found items on all campuses. All items turned in are inventoried and stored for 90 days. Every attempt is made to locate the owner and return their property to them.

If you find lost property turn it in to the Public Safety Department office in a timely manner so that an attempt to locate the owner can occur.  If you have lost an item you may also contact your Campus Public Safety Department Dispatch:

760-341-2111

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Reporting a Crime

Potential criminal actions, other life-threatening emergencies on or near campus can be reported by dialing 9-1-1 from any campus extension or cell phone.  You may also dial 2111 from a campus extension or 760-341-2111 from a cell phone to reach Public Safety Department 24 hours a day.  If you are reporting a 9-1-1 call from a campus extension it notifies the Public Safety Department.  

This is for anything that is not an imminent threat. This mailbox is not monitored 24 hours so please dial 9-1-1 for an emergency.  

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Parking Enforcement

Semester virtual parking permits can be purchased online. No person may park in a disabled parking space without a current DMV Disabled placard that is issued to the driver.

Palm Desert Campus:

Students may NOT park in the public library side of the parking lot (south side), McCallum Theatre parking (west side of the McCallum Theatre), or staff/faculty parking at anytime. Staff parking must have a registered virtual staff parking permit.  Disabled Parking must have a placard or license plate displayed. Motorcycles must have registered for a virtual parking permit.  No parking in the red curb or fire lane at any time permitted.

Eastern Valley/Indio Campus:

Staff parking must have registered for a virtual staff/faculty parking permit.  Disabled Parking must have a placard or license plate displayed. No parking in the red curb or fire lane at any time permitted.

Western Valley/Palm Springs Campus:

Staff parking must have registered for a virtual staff/facultyparking permit. Disabled Parking must have a placard or license plate displayed. No parking in the red curb or fire lane at any time permitted.

Mecca Thermal Campus:

Staff parking must have registered for a virtual staff/faculty parking permit. Disabled Parking must have a placard or license plate displayed. No parking in the red curb or fire lane at any time permitted​.

Any vehicle (including motorcycles) on the Palm Desert campus must register for a virtual parking permit.
 
All staff vehicles must have registered for a virtual parking permit to park in a staff lot.

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Parking Contest/Appeal Forms

If you are issued a citation and feel that you have grounds to contest the citation, you may fill out a Parking Contest Form. This form must be filled out online within the 21 day period once the citation is issued or the citation must be paid. Once the citation has passed the 21 day period without being contested or paid it begins to accrue late fees with the DMV.  *The DMV is responsible for their own fees COD can not refund any late fees due the DMV. 

Failure to register for a valid virtual parking permit is not grounds to file a parking contest form.  Parking in a staff lot without a registering for a virtual staff parking pass is not grounds to file a parking contest form.  For more information please visit your Public Safety Department office on your campus, or call 760-341-2111.​

Dr. Tim T. Nakamura
Director of Public Safety Department & Emergency Preparedness
tnakamura@collegeofthedesert.edu
760-568-3352

Jill Mikles-Probst
Administrative Assistant
760-776-7250

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Below are the printable pdfs of the Public Safety Department brochure of services offered to our campus community.

Have you signed up for COD Emergency Notifications?

In an emergency you will want to be in the know because every second matters.

To sign up for COD RAVE Emergency Notifications:

Text the word COD to any of these numbers from your mobile device.

• 67283
• 78015
• 77295

Once you have received a text message back that you have opted into the system, you will be registered for the emergency notifications.

For more information contact the Public Safety Dispatchat 760-341-2111.

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ALICE Training @ College of the Desert

Active Shooter Response Guide

Call 911 When it is safe to do so.

Join Us for The Great ShakeOut October 16, 2025 10:17am

Play the Great ShakeOut Drill Presentation

ShakeOut Resources:

https://www.earthquakecountry.org/accessibility

How to adapt your ShakeOut Drill

Building Captain Online Training: