Del Mar College opened their first official police department in 2021 to create an establishment for on-campus law enforcement. Although DMC has security guards, having police officers on school grounds ensures that there will be first responders present in case of emergencies. Del Mar College Police Department regulates the security system to ensure a safe environment for students and staff.  

The police department offers various services to make students feel secure at school. Safety escorts from class to class or to your vehicle are provided by officers, along with the ability to report any suspicious or criminal activity. Students are expected to use these safety features if they find themselves in an unsafe situation. 

DMC Chief of Police

Lauren White is the first chief of police at Del Mar and was originally hired as the chief of security in 2015.  White was a police officer for the Corpus Christi Police Department for 29 years before she retired in 2013. At CCPD, she was in patrol and specialized assignments, such as backgrounds, auto theft task force, and property crimes. However, for the majority of her CCPD career, White was one of the hostage negotiators. Trained to exert communication and psychological skills to de-escalate a dangerous situation, White came to Del Mar with a decorated and qualified past in law enforcement.   

While she was an officer, she also pursued a counseling program to become a licensed professional counselor. According to White, taking counseling programs has helped her understand the importance of taking care of her police officers just as much as they take care of their citizens.  

Once she retired from CCPD, she took the position of DMCPD Chief of Police to continue her path of the force. However, she now focuses more on the well-being of the campus and implements her counseling skills a lot more. It is like a “marriage between my two careers” White claimed about her current occupation.  

Low crime rates on campuses

Crime rates at DMC have not been high compared to other nearby campuses like Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Over the past two years, DMC crime statistics have reported a lower total of crimes than TAMU-CC. Between 2022-24, Heritage Campus reported three burglaries, one motor vehicle theft and one fondling on campus property. Windward Campus reported one burglary, one motor vehicle theft and two aggravated assaults on campus property between 2022-24. The Center for Economic Development reported one burglary and one motor vehicle theft on campus property between 2022-24. The Oso Creek Campus has had no reported crimes during that period. 

Overall, violent crimes are not very common at DMC as it is “not what we deal with,” White said. “It’s just a different environment.”

Tips for staying safe on campus

White’s biggest tips for college students to remain safe on campus are to be aware of their surroundings and their property. “Know what’s around,” Lauren said. She advises students to notify security or call the campus’ police if anything seems suspicious or out of place, so they can send someone over to investigate.  

It is better to be safe than sorry in a potentially dangerous situation. Especially being an open campus, with anyone allowed on school grounds, it is important to know what is going on around you and what you are doing with your belongings. Don’t leave your backpack or purse unattended and double check to make sure you locked your car. Following these simple suggestions can help avoid unsafe occurrences and decrease your risk of loss.