Campus Security: Doing Their Jobs

by Francesca M.

Campus security officers at Mountain Range are constantly in hallways, classrooms, lunch areas, or somewhere in the background of the school day. Their role, at its most basic, is simple: keep students safe, make sure rules are followed, and step in when something is wrong.

For the most part, officers are easy to get along with. Interacting with students is what they do for most of their day. As students, it’s easy to brush off these small moments. Although, those moments shape how we see security (whether it helps or just makes things weird). So how will students know what safety at school is supposed to look like?

When you’re told that safety is the top priority, it’s a big deal when things start to feel like they are all over the place. If people don’t get what the officers are doing, it makes you wonder: are these security officers actually prepared to keep students safe, or is their role on campus not as clear as it should be?

If a real emergency happened, would they know exactly what to do? Sometimes it seems like campus security is focused on things that don’t really make us feel so secure.

Typically, campus security officers are popular and pleasant, so this inquiry isn't an attack on them; rather, it's a closer look at the system meant to keep us safe. When focus shifts to smaller issues, students could begin to contemplate if they are truly protected. At last, the actual security plan should never be vague enough to invite doubt.

To understand that concern better, it is also important to look at how campus security officers themselves describe their role. Campus security officers Tony Tolbert and Leticia Meraz gave responses that, taken together, describe their job as keeping unauthorized people out, helping students feel safe inside the building, and enforcing school rules such as requiring IDs for entry.

That all sounds good in theory, but there’s a huge disparity between what they say and what actually happens. The experiences of the campus body show a pattern that is not completely one-sided. Some say officers are present, but not always in the way students expect. It matters because it highlights what campus security officers actually do and how students interpret their presence.

A teacher at Mountain Range, who asked not to be identified, is at odds with campus security. She said some supervisors consistently hold students accountable, while others seem less for the most focused, often talking with students who should be in class or distracted on their phones. “I believe what students say because I see a lot of the same things," she said. “Looking back at how things used to be, not every student liked a former supervisor who left last year. Despite this, he was effective in maintaining safety and enforcing rules.” She thinks the whole security team isn’t to blame, but rather the inconsistency in how different officers carry out their roles.

On the flip side, History teacher Mrs. Benimeli vows that the officers do their job well. She stated, “As a whole, yes I think that campus security does its job. This is a big school and there is a lot to focus on. If anything, I think we could use more but there is just not a budget for that.” In her view, students will always find something to complain about. She therefore suggests that the issue is a lack of assets, as opposed to the performance of our officers.

Even so, for a team that’s supposed to be focused on “unauthorized people,” they seem to miss a lot of them. I have seen countless times where random people just stroll into the school. An anonymous Junior with direct knowledge of these situations was surprised to find people sneaking in undetected, even carrying weapons. He noted security often “messes around,” joking with students ditching class instead of enforcing rules. Still, safety is not being managed.

Kaytlynn M’s explained, “They’re just more friendly than actually doing their job, like they try to be my friends, and, like, I don’t want that.” It’s a bit of a mixed message because she also admits, “I feel like they do it well; they’re actually doing their job.” However, she questions moments when “they’re just walking around, like, talking to people,” suggesting that being visible does not always feel meaningful.

She seems torn between the two options. Alternatively, security is present, but perhaps too personal. When she says officers give advice about “their latest news about their boyfriend,” it suggests interactions can shift away from safety and into personal topics.

Brooklyn C’s response is more about how It’s hard to tell the officers apart from the kids. She said officers “mostly seem to be unserious and seem to look like they’re one of the high school students.” Appearance and behavior can influence how much authority students think they have, especially for someone who is supposed to be dependable and take things seriously.

Even though she adds that they “treat students fairly for the most part,” she also says, “I feel as safe as possible at school because I can’t do anything if something happens.” This suggests her sense of security does not really come from campus security itself. Instead, it points to the idea that in a serious situation, control is limited, and help is not something she is actively relying on.

Another student, who did not want to be named, responded more straightforwardly, saying, “The majority, if not most, of the time they focus on student behavior or drama.” At the same time, he acknowledged they “treat everyone fairly,” but also explained that they are “more close with people they know better,” which can create the feeling that attention is not always evenly distributed.

What stands out most is his statement, “They do nothing to make me feel safer at school.” This gets to the core of the issue across all these responses: not just what officers do, but whether their actions actually match their purpose.

At the end of the day, Mountain Range definitely has security. But just having it doesn’t mean everyone feels secure. We see them around, but it’s hard to tell if they’re actually making a difference in our day-to-day lives. Regardless of this, Mountain Range High School is lucky to have campus security officers as part of the community. We cannot deny that they do play a vital role. Notwithstanding, they must ensure that their efforts are truly effective.