Board of Trustees Passes Resolution Following Campus Threat

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 6, 2019

Media Contact: Miya Walker, Public Affairs; (562) 860-2451 ext. 2292

NORWALK. Calif. – September 6, 2019 – Following a bomb threat incident at Cerritos College on Tuesday, September 3, the Board of Trustees took swift action at its September 4 meeting to pass a resolution to determine if more security measures are needed at the College.

The resolution acknowledged the brave actions of a student who alerted the instructor present in the classroom where the incident began. The instructor immediately called 911, which prompted campus police to issue a shelter in place warning to campus. The resolution also acknowledges the actions of the Cerritos College Police Department that detained the suspect without incident or harm. The resolution calls for an independent review of the College’s safety mechanisms to determine if improvements are needed to boost its emergency response systems.

“Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our most critical role as Trustees,” said Carmen Avalos, president of the Cerritos College Board of Trustees. “We are thankful that the Cerritos College Campus Police Department was able to contain the incident quickly. The resolution allows us to determine what additional safety features we may need to respond to emergencies or campus incidents.”

The Cerritos College Police Department identified the suspect who was booked at the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department. Authorities determined the suspect was not a Cerritos College student.

 

About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 23,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at http://www.cerritos.edu/.

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