Highline Public Safety is here to provide support to make sure that every student, staff, and faculty member is safe and secure. They are committed to bring a positive social and educational experience for every student at Highline College.

Public Safety is here in case of an emergency and they routinely develop and revise emergency plans that can respond to every event that pose a real or potential threat to the life of every student, because safety and security is priority to all students. 

“Highline College is a relatively safe campus, but it is also a reflection of the community around it,” said David Menke, Director of Public Safety & Emergency Management. “Our crime statistics will often see trends from the cities of Des Moines and Kent since our campus community resides within or near those cities.”

”Highline College Department of Public Safety serves and supports our campus community to ensure a safe and secure environment. Public Safety is committed to a positive social and educational process for our students. We will provide professional services that value and respect community diversity at Highline College through partnerships with students and employees,” according to the Highline Public Safety website.

The Public Safety team has been very proactive, which is why we may not see many crimes against individuals here on campus. “Our main focus is to deter criminal activity with professional presence through foot and vehicle patrols. We continue to interact with the campus community for education with safety tips and best practices,” said Menke.

The Public Safety team continually prioritizes patrols in the parking lot since crimes against vehicles are prevalent in the area. Des Moines has seen a decrease in catalytic converter thefts, but an uptick of Kia and Hyundai thefts.

Highline has also experienced similar thefts on campus and send out safety emails to provide tips to protect vehicles. The number one crime that occurs on campus is what the Public Safety website calls a “theft of opportunity,” or theft of personal property. 

Students should not leave their belongings unattended even for a short period of time. Do not trust a stranger to watch your personal belongings. If you have a vehicle, you should lock your doors, keep windows up and keep all valuables out of sight or take them with you. 

Here are some tips on how to keep your belongings safe. Most of the safety tips are already maintained instinctively by car owners, however for those who don’t know how to protect their possessions follow the tips listed below:

1. Make sure all your doors are locked and do random checks on your vehicle.

2. Park your car in well-lit areas in the parking lot, especially at night, to reduce your car been stolen or vandalized. 

3. Avoid leaving valuables in plain sight in your vehicle – be sure to tuck them away or put them in your trunk.

4. Install a personal security camera and/or alarm system in your car to decrease chances of your belongs being stolen.

5. Put a steering wheel lock on your vehicle and install a security key so your car cannot turn on without it.

Highline Public Safety officers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you want more information please visit the Campus Security office on the lower level of Building 6 or visit their website at: https://adminservices.highline.edu/public-safety/ 

To contact Public Safety call (206) 592-3218 at any time.