December 2005

Briefly speaking: A talk with Chief Spicuzza

Annette Spicuzza became UC Davis chief of police in May. (Debbie Aldridge)

Annette Spicuzza was appointed chief of police at UC Davis in May, becoming the first woman to receive a permanent appointment to the position. She came to UC Davis with nearly 20 years of experience in municipal and university law enforcement, having served most recently as assistant chief at the University of Washington in Seattle. She talked with us about the role of campus police.

Q: Are campus police ìrealî officers?

A: Yes, they can write you a ticket (for driving or even riding your bike too fast), arrest you and take you to jail. They are fully commissioned police officers, not part-time cops, and go through the same academy training as other police officers.

Q: How many individuals are currently on the force?

A: Right now, we have 45 sworn officers from chief to officers. Weíre actually short by five officers and are currently looking to hire more individuals.

Q: How many officers are on patrol at any one time?

A: We have squads of four to five officers on a squad with no less than three officers on patrol and up to eight for special events. The same officers may patrol by bike or car.

Q: Do the officers stay within the campus borders?

A: Although campus security is their primary job, the officers can go about a mile out, as needed by the city, but you wonít see them patrolling the town. We do have a mutual-aid agreement with the city force, and thatís a good partnership. Weíre here to help them, just as they help us if needed.

Q: How many calls come in a day and what is the nature of the calls?

A: The number of calls we receive varies widely, but the weekends are typically busier, as are Mondays when students return to campus and may discover that a bike has been stolen. But you never know; we get a crazy Tuesday every now and then. Mostly, students are reporting property crimes: a stolen bicycle, laptop, cell phone. We also get the occasional persons crime, but thankfully those are pretty rare. This is a safe communityówe have some crime, but we deal with it as necessary.

Q: How do the officers work with students?

A: We participate in a number of ways, including new student orientations, crime prevention presentations and the campus STEP program, which is a summer enrichment program for incoming freshmen. Our officers present safety and legal education to the students upon their arrival to campus. We want them to be informed as to their rights as well as provide safety tips.

Q: What is your philosophy regarding policing?

A: Iím a firm believer in community-oriented policing, being seen and heard. We help residents solve problems, and partnering with the campus community on issues is important. Theyíre our eyes and ears as well. Good relationships with the students and community lead to better communication and a safer environment.

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