Big Bend works to improve security

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College's campus security director said the school has improved its on-campus security to make the college safer for students, staff and community members.

The college's efforts were prompted by the kidnapping, robbery and rape of a 19-year-old Big Bend student in 2011.

The woman survived the attack and a 33-year-old transient male was sentenced to 28 years to life in prison for his crimes.

In the wake of the incident, BBCC's administration took measures to make sure similar crimes do not happen again on campus, according to Kyle Foreman, the college's campus security director.

Before being hired at the college, Foreman provided multiple staff training sessions at BBCC on the National Incident Management System.

"Around January 2012, I began working under a contract by BBCC as a consultant addressing campus safety and security enhancements," Foreman said. "In June of 2012, I was hired as the first director of campus safety and security for BBCC."

Foreman is tasked to oversee environmental safety, site security and emergency management. He also is an active member of the state's community and technical college safety, security and emergency management council.

During his tenure, one of Foreman's biggest accomplishments was adding surveillance cameras and more street lights to deter crime.

With about 153 acres of land, 2,180 enrolled students and 175 people living in on-campus dorms, BBCC had a need to keep people on their campus safe.

"One of my biggest things was enhancing our surveillance cameras. We started out with four analog cameras. Today we have 14 high definition mega pixel cameras on campus. We even have another batch of 10 new cameras arriving on Friday. By the end of next year we hope to have up to 35 cameras on campus," Foreman said.

With the help of a $947,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce in 2013, the campus was able to upgrade their old incandescent lights to LED lights. This helps in deterring crime from happening in areas that previously had poor lighting conditions.

BBCC has an open campus. That means Foreman and other security officers at the school have to contend with possible situations involving students, employees and other community members.

BBCC partnered with Moses Lake School District, Columbia Basin Job Corps, Grant County International Airport, Grant County Sheriff's Office, Grant County Fire District No. 5 and the Moses Lake Police Department to address possible safety and security issues, according to Foreman.

"A majority of the calls we get are very minor. We get the occasional vehicle theft and vehicle prowl. Probably about two to three times a year we get calls regarding people not associated with the college, who are on our campus," Foreman said.

Every year, BBCC produces a report of crime statistics at their campus, as required by the Clery Act.

The Clery Act was created to collect, classify and count crime reports and crime statistics. A college that does not report an incident could face a $35,000 fine, Foreman said.

In 2013, BBCC had 32 reported incidents. The majority of the incidents were related to destruction/damage/vandalism with six incidents, and non-injury vehicle collisions, also with six reported incidents.

Before Foreman arrived at BBCC, the college was not receiving many incident reports.

"Crime actually went up after we hired Kyle, because people were reporting it," BBCC spokesperson Doug Sly said. "He helped us become more aware of what is going on here."

Foreman credits the success and developments in security at BBCC to the working partnership with various members and agencies throughout the community

Foreman and BBCC have a dedication toward keeping students and employees aware of what to do in an emergency situation.

With monthly fire evacuation drills, bi-annual on-campus exercises with local public safety agencies and on-campus active shooter drills, BBCC wants its students and staff to know what to do in the event of an emergency.