This is the first in a series of Campus Safety articles with University Police Officer Johnny Coxum.

University Police works with community to ensure a safe campus for everyone

It is Officer Johnny Coxum’s duty to get out and interact with the campus community.

As the community policing and crime prevention officer for the University Police Department, Coxum is responsible for working closely with students, faculty, staff and visitors at New Paltz in order to fulfill the department’s mission of maintaining and promoting a safe environment.

He said he is a liaison between the University Police Department and the campus community. “I talk with people and walk around campus,” said Coxum. “My job is to be seen.”

One of his roles is to be proactive and make sure there is less of a need for reactionary police involvement. In order to achieve that goal, Coxum facilitates programs for students and faculty that teach safety and security techniques. He can often be seen hosting programs, such as Operation ID – a nationwide security program where officers engrave individuals’ property with an identification number – in the residence halls.

Among the list of educational programs that University Police provide are Drunk Busters, Rape Aggression Defense (RAD), Safety 101 and Defensive Driving. Coxum has also created programming on such topics as what every citizen should know and Miranda Rights. He also works with off-campus organizations, such as the New Paltz Youth Center and local Boy Scout troops.

A member of the University Police Department since 1998, Coxum was appointed to the community policing and crime prevention officer role in 2008.

New security efforts in arts buildings

The Fine Arts Building, Old Library Building and Smiley Arts Building will now be closed from 2 to 7 a.m. every day. Security systems were installed this summer in the buildings to ensure the safety of students and employees working in the studios, cleanliness of the buildings, and security of equipment and student work.