Q: My daughter, who attends Kapiolani Community College, needed help with starting her car because of a dead battery. She contacted Campus Security and was told that the officer was on sick leave and instead, to contact the Auxilliary Services Officer. But he said he couldn't help and for her to call a tow truck. Why couldn't he help? I later found out that there is only one officer during the day and two at night. Why is there a lack of security personnel for such a large campus? If this was an emergency, who would have responded? Security at KCC hurt
by state budget woesA: It boils down to cutbacks in personnel because of the state's budget constraints. It's true there is only one daytime guard - 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - and two at night - 2:30 to 10:30 p.m., said Ann Oshiro, KCC's director of administrative services.
But KCC also has a contract with Freeman Guards to patrol the campus the rest of the time, until 6 a.m. weekdays, and all weekend long.
Problems with dead batteries fall into a "kind of grey area," she said. Guards "try to help when they can, but it is not a requirement of their job." There is also the question of liability.
If a battery problem occurs during the day, people are advised to seek outside help. "But normally, at night, when there is more of a safety concern, we do try to assist as much as we can," Oshiro said.
The lack of guards is a concern, she said. KCC lost one security position in budget cuts and does not expect to regain it anytime soon.
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