A Day in the Life of a Police Officer at UCLA Police Department
London, a UCLA Police Department community engagement officer, describes their role as "the best job," involving daily community interaction, meetings with various departments and community members to discuss safety, and conducting safety training. This includes freely roaming campus, building relationships with students, staff, and athletic teams, allowing for organic conversations and community building, resulting in a flexible schedule that prioritizes genuine engagement.
Community Engagement, Campus Safety, Public Relations, Interpersonal Skills, Training and Education
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
London McBride
Police Officer
UCLA Police Department
Utah State University 99'
Southern New Hampshire University; MS-Organizational Leadership
Anthropology, Sociology
Government & Public Sector
Legal
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. A day in the life of a Community Engagement Officer at UCLA involves a mix of meetings, training, and community interaction.
2. The officer spends time meeting with different departments and community members to discuss safety concerns and implement safety protocols.
3. A significant part of the role is building relationships with students, staff, faculty, and athletic teams through informal interactions and training sessions, fostering a sense of community and trust with the police department
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a community engagement officer look like?
The day in the life of a community engagement officer is really about being out in the community. I think I have the best job, next to the chief.
Typically, I get to the office around nine. I might have a meeting that starts around ten. These meetings are usually with different departments or community members, discussing how to keep an area safe. We talk about what's going on that we need to be aware of and how to implement safety protocols or training.
I usually conduct training, whether in person or via Zoom. I teach people about safety and security and do security assessments. Any kind of safety training often falls to me, and I go out and do that.
If I don't have meetings, I get out of the office and walk around campus. I talk to people and hang out with students I've built relationships with. I also visit with folks in athletics, as we do training for them and their staff and faculty.
It's pretty cool to roam freely around campus. People know me and know I work for the police department. They always greet me warmly, and often share what happened over the weekend or ask for help. Sometimes they just tell me their stories and what's going on in their lives.
Like I said, it's a really cool position and I truly enjoy it. Because I don't have a set schedule, when people want to have these conversations, it gives me the opportunity to really engage with them. I don't feel rushed because I have to handle a call. I like it because it builds community.