The Citizen

VC of General Services retires

New security survey, search for PCCD General Counsel, and more announced today

Eliot Faine, Staff Writer • April 22, 2024

Interim Vice Chancellor of General Services, Atheria Smith, has retired effective April 19.

Knowledge Saves Lives to receive new contract for security study

Isabelly Sabô Barbosa, Social Media Editor • April 8, 2024

The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees is expected to vote tomorrow on a new contract with Knowledge Saves Lives (KSL) to conduct a districtwide “public safety feasibility study.” The...

Sunshine Week 2024: Spotlighting public records

A multi-year investigation into public records related to campus security, public funds, and more

Li Khan, Editor in Chief • March 17, 2024

As the news cycle churns on and current events beg for our attention, some public records that we obtain inevitably end up collecting dust in the corner. In honor of Sunshine Week, we’ve decided to dust off some of those records, and shed light on public information.

PCCD public safety director Tim Thomas pleads no contest, receives six months probation for battery charge

PRA update: Thomas ‘did not apply/request to work remotely’ on day of DUI/concealed carry charge, district says

Lylah Schmedel, Managing Editor • March 13, 2024

Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Executive Director of Public Safety, Tim Thomas, received a deferred entry of judgment at a disposition hearing March 6, for his misdemeanor case related to a...

PCCD Trustees to vote on $6 million Marina contract

$63.7 million amendment to BCC’s Milvia Street Expansion also on agenda

Sam O'Neil, Associate Editor • February 27, 2024

The Peralta Community College District (PCCD)’s Board of Trustees is set to vote tonight on a new $6 million contract with Marina Security Services (Marina), the private security firm currently contracted...

PCCD public safety director placed on leave pending resignation

Announcement comes hours after recent court hearing for battery case

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, Managing Editor • February 14, 2024

Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson announced yesterday that she placed the district’s Executive Director of Public Safety Tim Thomas on leave pending resignation. The announcement came hours after Thomas’ recent court hearing, during which the presiding judge stated that an active warrant had been issued for Thomas’ arrest.

Thomas hearing rescheduled due to outstanding arrest warrant

Warrant stems from Thomas' failure to appear for Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, Managing Editor • February 13, 2024

A disposition hearing for the misdemeanor case against Tim Thomas, Executive Director of Public Safety for the Peralta Community College District, was rescheduled by the judge today, due to an outstanding...

New movement in public safety director’s criminal cases

Tim Thomas convicted on DUI, new hearing set for battery case

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, Investigations Editor • December 22, 2023

The beginning of December marked a series of updates for the criminal cases against Tim Thomas, PCCD's Executive Director of Public Safety. Thomas was convicted on two charges relating to a DUI, while his battery and elder abuse case is set for another disposition hearing.

Emergency in the Laney parking lot? Don’t try the blue phones

Leo Premnath-Ray, Investigations Reporter • October 23, 2023

A broken conduit has left all four emergency blue phones in Laney College’s parking lot out of order for nearly three years. On Sep. 25, Peralta’s current Associate Director of Public Safety...

Thomas hearing set, new charges unveiled

Jan 30 arrest includes DUI, refusal to test, and firearm charges according to CHP

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, Investigations Editor • October 17, 2023

A disposition hearing is set for Tim Thomas, Peralta Community College District’s (PCCD’s) Executive Director of Public Safety, regarding his misdemeanor charges of battery, elder abuse, and grand...

PCCD hosts virtual town hall meeting on public safety

Satch Alvarez and Sam O'Neil • September 30, 2023

Peralta Community College District (PCCD) officials hosted a virtual Public Safety Town Hall this Monday, presenting the results of a recent survey on campus safety and security results and answering questions...

Peralta public safety director seeks court diversion for criminal charges

Trustees approve decision to reclassify his position

Lylah Schmedel, Staff Writer • September 4, 2023

Update 9/21/2023: The pretrial hearing has been rescheduled. On Sep. 20, The Superior Court of Alameda County informed The Citizen that the "there is a Pretrial Hearing on 10/03/2023 at 9:00 am for...