Campus Police and Safety

Emergencies: Dial 911
From on-campus telephones, dial 9-911.

Emergencies may also be reported directly to Campus Police and Safety by speaking into the handset at any of the Blue Lights that can be found throughout the main campus.

Campus Police and Safety is located within the Administration Building, Room A-113. Open Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Closed on campus holidays

Campus information and daily parking permits can be obtained at the Information Booth in Parking Lot 2. Open 24 hours / 7 days per week.

The primary campus lost and found is located at Campus Police and Safety, A-113.

Disaster Service Workers

As a public employer, all Río Hondo Community College District employees have been designated as Disaster Service Workers (DSW) during an emergency. This is a requirement for all California public employees. Emergencies include, but are not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, or public health emergencies. In an emergency, non-essential public employees (those who are not required for continuity of operations) may be released from their traditional duties and assigned to assist in emergency response.

In the event of a disaster, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated to manage major emergencies and request employees through the emergency notification system to advise them of whether and when to report to DSW duty. DSWs are frequently needed to perform general duties such as clerical support, damage assessment, conducting repairs, driving, food preparation, sorting, packing, or loading. You may have more specialized duties, depending on the work you do every day, and/or any special skills you may possess.

The California Constitution Oath or Affirmation

As a public employee, before you entered upon the duties of your employment at Río Hondo College, you took and subscribed to the oath or affirmation.

“I, (your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.”

Emergency Response Expectations

During Business Hours

  • You must remain at work and be available to assist with relief efforts.
  • Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that their employees remain present and available. Supervisors are not permitted to release employees without the approval of senior administration. Only the District Incident Commander or designated Administrator is permitted to release all non-essential public employees during a disaster.
  • Employees who leave work during an emergency without permission may be subject to disciplinary action.

Outside of Business Hours

  • Ensure that your family is safe. If you have a designated emergency role, you will need to respond in accordance with your departmental procedures.
  • If you have not been pre-designated to report to campus in an emergency, you are expected to listen to radio/news broadcasts and/or contact your supervisor and comply with their directives.
  • Employees are expected to report to work at their normally scheduled time unless instructed otherwise by their supervisor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does disaster service mean?

Disaster service means all activities authorized by and carried out pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act.

Who is included in the disaster service worker status?

All public employees are included in the disaster service worker status which are all persons employed by any county, city, state agency or public district.

What are the scope of duties of employee disaster service workers?

Any public employees performing duties as a disaster service worker shall be considered to be acting within the scope of disaster service duties while assisting any unit of the organization or performing any act contributing to the protection of life or property or mitigating the affects of an emergency.

How are public employees assigned disaster service activities?

Public employees are assigned disaster service activities by their superiors or by law to assist the agency in carrying out its responsibilities during times of disaster.

What is the oath or affirmation referred to in the government code?

Before entering upon the duties of employment, all public employees take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation set forth in the California Constitution that declares them to be disaster service workers in time of need.

When do public employees take the oath or affirmation?

Most public employees sign the oath or affirmation during the hiring process and it is kept with the employer.

Do public employees acting as disaster service workers get paid?

Public employees acting as disaster service workers get paid only if they have taken and subscribed to the oath or affirmation.

Can disaster service workers be sued for actions taken while performing duties?

Public employee disaster service workers for non-profit organizations and government cannot be held liable for their actions during a disaster while acting within the scope of their responsibilities.

What if public employees are injured while acting as disaster service workers?

Claims sustained by public employees while performing disaster services shall be filed as worker compensation claims under the same authorities and guidelines as with all employees within their agency.

California Government Code

Chapter 8. Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance for Disaster Service Workers and Public Employees [3100–3109]

It is hereby declared that the protection of the health and safety and preservation of the lives and property of the people of the state from the effects of natural, manmade, or war-caused emergencies which result in conditions of disaster or in extreme peril to life, property, and resources is of paramount state importance requiring the responsible efforts of public and private agencies and individual citizens. In furtherance of the exercise of the police power of the state in protection of its citizens and resources, all public employees are hereby declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

California Government Code 8657: Provides immunity from liability for both the worker and the agency, absent willful or criminal acts.

California Government Code 8659: Protections for healthcare providers, absent the event of a willful act or omission.