Upon entering the Temple City Blvd. gate, Campus Supervisor Ms. Rachel Milanponce greets students while checking their IDs. She is one of the five security guards on campus every day with a small window of six during lunch.
The life of a security guard is not just standing and waiting around for something bad to happen. Their job is to patrol the campus and to make sure students and staff feel safe.
“It is very crucial to be alert, because when you look at the statistics and see what has taken place at other campuses, they could have implemented better procedures, and it’s because of a lack of awareness,” Campus Supervisor Ms. Jasmine Henriquez Thomas said. “I’m constantly being vigilant, constantly looking at what kids are doing, who’s coming in.”
Campus security guards must go through a required 24-hour School Security Guard Training, or SB 1626, to work on a school campus.
These courses include training in house fighting for students, lockdown procedures and active shooter drills. These courses take place every few years, along with first aid training that is renewed every two years.
“We maintain a safe environment, monitoring who comes into our campus, as you know we implemented the ID checks. Everyone on our campus has to be an active student and it has made it very hard for our alumni,” Mr. Joel Catalan said. “But overall, we aim to make a good safe environment for our students to be able to learn everyday.”
Similar to the goal of teachers, security guards are here to protect and remain vigilant so students can stay focused in school. Outside the classrooms, students will notice there is always campus security near. Behind every security guard is a story as to why they chose this specific field that can potentially put their lives at risk.
It is common for the guards to have a similar story of how being a parent has an effect on how they view safety for others.
“When my youngest child was a student. He was in elementary school when I was offered the opportunity to do this, and I just thought what could I do,” Campus Supervisor Ms. Patrice Durden said. “If I can make him safe, then I can make the rest of the students safe, and that was interesting to me; to make sure he was safe, so you guys just turn into my kids, too.”
As for being our first line of defense, security guards put their thoughts aside and prioritize students’ and staffs’ safety with the pure intention of making sure students and their peers remain safe throughout campus.
“This is a job you really have to love and you have to really be comfortable in what you do because if not, you cannot do this job,” Ms. Thomas said. “I know there are some students here who can’t stand me and that’s okay, its my job, but little do they know if something popped off on this property while I’m working, I’m here to protect them and take care of them if they’re hurt.”
TCHS School Newspaper