The Spire

Viveca Stucke ‘26

Chief Features Editor 

Throughout their four years at Holy Cross, there is one that students undoubtedly interact with: Public Safety. Whether through getting new key cards, obtaining a parking pass, the displeasure of a parking ticket, or through an emergency, students are sure to have some level of interaction with a PubSafe officer during their tenure at Holy Cross. In this spirit, I looked to connect with Chief of Police, Shawn De Jong, in an attempt to hear more about the work they do and some of the behind the scenes efforts of Public Safety.

1. How does Public Safety look to build trust and rapport with the student body?

Public Safety prioritizes strong, positive relationships with students by being visible, approachable, and engaged across campus. We emphasize a community-oriented policing model, where officers build familiarity with students through daily interactions, open conversations, and a commitment to respectful, service-minded engagement. Our aim is for students to view Public Safety as a resource, not just a responder.

2. What have been the biggest trends, patterns, or concerns that Public Safety has from this semester? 

We have not seen significant changes that cause us concern. Overall, trends in calls for service, community interactions, and safety-related reports have remained consistent with previous semesters, and we continue to monitor campus activity closely to ensure a safe environment for everyone. 

3. What are other services or resources that Public Safety offers students beyond emergency response?

Public Safety provides a variety of services that support student well-being, including:

• Safety escorts for students traveling across campus at night
• Vehicle assistance, such as jump-starts
• Lost and found services
• Emergency preparedness training, including CPR and ALICE/active-threat training
• Event safety planning and support
• Crime prevention education and personal safety workshops
• Access control and ID card assistance

These services help students navigate campus safely and confidently beyond emergency situations.

4. How does Public Safety balance privacy and confidentiality with the need to alert members of the community about potential threats?

We follow clear guidelines to ensure that individual privacy is protected while also meeting our responsibility to keep the community informed. When there is a potential threat to campus safety, we issue alerts that provide timely, essential information—such as location, nature of the threat, and recommended actions—without disclosing personal or identifying details. 

5. In what ways does Public Safety collaborate with other departments on campus?

Public Safety works closely with many campus partners, including:

• Residential Life & Housing, to support students in residence halls and assist during incidents
• Student Development, to coordinate wellness initiatives and provide support resources
• Title IX, to ensure safe and equitable reporting processes
• Facilities, when incidents involve maintenance, environmental safety issues, or building access
• Counseling and Health Services, especially during mental-health-related calls
• Athletics and Campus Recreation, for event planning and crowd safety

This collaborative approach ensures that safety is integrated into all areas of campus life.

6. What are some goals that Public Safety has moving forward?

Looking ahead, our two primary goals include:

• Enhancing community engagement, especially with first-year students and student organizations

• Strengthening partnerships across campus to support a holistic approach to student safety and wellness
  

Featured image courtesy of Facebook