The Peralta Community College District launched a new security app for students and community members in February. The PeraltaSafety app allows users to receive instant emergency alerts, report security concerns, and instantly contact 911 with their current location.
The PeraltaSafety app, designed by AppArmor Mobile, is monitored by the district’s security vendor, Marina Security Services.
Its roll-out is part of the district’s new “Action Plan for Holistic Safety and Wellness,” a “hybrid” safety model that would reintroduce sworn officers on campuses alongside unarmed security forces.
Peralta’s interim executive director of public safety, Abdul Pridgen, oversees the district’s transition to the new safety plan. He said the app was designed to cultivate a feeling of personal safety at each campus.
“There’s often a disconnect between what the [Clery] data reveals and how people feel. That’s something that I work to bridge,” Pridgen told The Citizen.
Students can also choose to opt into the virtual safety escort, allowing Marina Security to monitor their location while going from one location to another and access the call function of their cellular device.
Peralta’s 2024 Clery report stated that the district is“relatively safe.” A subsequent Peralta safety and security survey found that around half of the survey participants felt “safe” or “extremely safe” on campus.
New security app “absolutely free” for the district
Peralta previously relied on the CampusShield app, also developed by AppArmor, to keep the community informed during emergencies. It functioned like the Rave Alert app – community members could report crimes and safety administrators could send campus-wide alerts.
The California governor’s Office of Emergency Services contracted with Rave Mobile Safety to modernize emergency service systems “for select jurisdictions and public agencies, including institutions of higher education” in 2020.
On Jan. 23, 2023, Peralta’s board of trustees approved a request to opt-in to the emergency services provided by Rave Alert.
Pridgen says the PeraltaSafety app doesn’t cost the cash-strapped Peralta district any additional money.
“The beauty of it is that it’s absolutely free. It’s included in our subscription to Rave,” Pridgen said.
Though other features can be added to the app for an additional cost, Pridgen told The Citizen in an interview that he wants to be “fiscally prudent” and will only explore those options if necessary.
“We feel that the app that is available is pretty robust,” he says.
Student input
Student trustees Sophia Parmigiani and Pierce Byrne worked with Pridgen to test a prototype of the app. Parmigiani announced at the Feb. 11 board meeting that initial testing was “promising, with being helpful to students.” She says that student trustees helped create the language and descriptions in the app to make it accessible to students.
The app also addresses student safety concerns, Parmigiani says, “[the] campus is always being watched”.
The district also now has a 24/7 security patrol.
Students had positive remarks regarding the app. Peralta student Kathy Nguyen said the app is convenient for her.
“I’m going to use it […] because I study here and Oakland is kind of dangerous at night,” Nguyen said.
Another student, Theresa Peterson, added “[if] I see anything going on, like dangerous or for my safety, […] I look at the app and I look at what’s going on at the college, and I see, is it safe for me to stay at home or is it safe for me to come to the school? So, it’s a very good app.”
Peralta plans for a “hybrid security model”
Last February, Peralta’s trustee board approved a $6 million independent contractor agreement with Marina Security to provide security services at each college through Feb. 28, 2025. Peralta leadership recently extended that contract to at least June 30 for over $1.97 million in additional fees to extend.
With this extension, Director Pridgen plans to secure a new security contract with a vendor (which could also include Marina Security) by July 1, 2025.
Marina Security offers a vast array of services, ranging from sexual harassment to diversity training for its guards. Their ASPIRE training is based on six pillars: Aptitude, Service Professionalism, Integrity, Reliability, and Endurance to “demonstrate” commitment to their customers.
Previously, Peralta had issues with its security contracts in which the district made multiple shuffles through vendors after finding several vendors did not have the proper licensing to provide security services, following reporting by The Citizen.
Moving forward:
Pridgen says the district will continue to develop the app in the coming months. He also mentioned projects such as the advanced video observation and parking security systems moving forward.
In an email to The Citizen, Pridgen said that the district intends to work with Volt AI, a video observation technology company that uses artificial intelligence to enhance its surveillance. The Board of Trustees will vote on this proposed contract during its May 13 meeting.
One of the student interviews was contributed by Akua Parker.
