Campus News - Spartan Daily

February 20, 2005

UPD Chief Looks Back on First Year
By Christine Glarrow
Daily Staff Writer
February 20, 2005

University Police Department Chief Andre Barnes has spent the past year learning how to best serve the San Jose State University community since he was sworn in February, 2004.

While Barnes has tried to make working close with the community a priority, he said there is still as lot to be done.

Barnes said he has tried to introduce himself to a variety of groups, such as Mosaic Cross Cultural Center, the Black Student Union, the Campus Climate Committee, the athletic department and University Housing Services, in hopes of finding strategies to work together in the future.

In his 24 years prior to being the police chief, Barnes worked for the Oakland Police Department.
There, he attained skills that have helped him work with a myriad of people, Barnes said. Since working for campus police, he has had to work with various ethnic and gender groups, similar to that of the experience in Oakland, Barnes said.

Barnes said working in this atmosphere, however, is an encouragement. In Oakland, people have different needs, but at SJSU, the focus is on providing students with an education, though there may be various approaches.

" Here, we're all looking for the same goal for students - graduation," Barnes said.
Since he started his duty as police chief, Barnes said he hasn't had any big surprises. There have, however, been a lot of learning experiences, as he has been able to see the campus through its different seasons in the past year, he said.

" It's gone well - there have been challenges," Barnes said.

One of the difficulties Barnes had to face was the budget cuts.

" When he came aboard, it was at just about its lowest point," Sgt. John Laws said.

As a result, Barnes and campus police had to cut three police positions.

Fortunately, they were not filled at the time, so no layoffs took place, Barnes said.
But, Barnes said, it would have been beneficial for community projects to have the budget for more positions.

For instance, more walking patrol officers and officers that work with specific university groups that haven't typically had a liaison would be valuable for students, Barnes said.

Barnes has also had to deal with the issue of recruitment.

Barnes said that the pay offered to campus police employees isn't always the same as that for other departments in Santa Clara County, making it difficult to recruit officers.

Another struggle, Barnes said, is gauging how the students think campus police is doing. Students tend not to give feedback, unless they have been a victim of a crime, Barnes said.

Barnes said he would like to "be able to get a better gauge ... of how students feel about this department."

Not only do they work to keep students safe, campus police keep the properties and parking safe and clean, things Barnes said students can easily take for granted.

" Even if you don't notice us, we're still working for you," he said.

Barnes said his new position hasn't been too difficult on his family, which is important to him.
" My family has been in this business with me for over 25 years," he said.

Barnes has two older sons - one away at college and one who just returned from Brazil, where he taught children English.

He has been able to include his wife, Bessie, in community events by attending ceremonies, athletic games and events at the library, Barnes said.

While part of the campus police's mission is to provide police, Barnes said the department has also spent this year purchasing equipment and increasing training, such as earthquake, fire and hazardous materials training, for the officers and people in the campus community. They have also provided the library with more personnel.

Laws said that he hasn't seen any extreme changes since Barnes became chief.

" He's changing things subtly, to his own style," which has been positive, Laws said.

One decision made with Barnes as chief was to change the colors of the police cars. Rather than white with blue stripes, they've decided on the "more traditional black-and-white look," Laws said.
" That's been a big morale booster for the guys and gals here," said Sgt. Robert Noriega.
Overall, the transition and the past year have gone well, Noriega said.

" He's been very supportive," Laws said.

This upcoming year, Barnes and the campus police will be working to provide the new Campus Village with a sufficient amount of security.