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About Police

Our mission is to provide a safe and secure environment while respecting the rights and dignity of all persons utilizing the facilities and programs of El Camino College. 

Providing a Safe and Secure Campus Environment 

The Police Department is located at the corner of Redondo Beach Blvd. and Crenshaw Blvd. in Parking Lot K and is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

The Police Department has a staff of approximately 30 full-time and part-time employees who are dedicated to making El Camino College a safe and welcoming environment.

Vision

  • Establish a cohesive and supportive work environment — one that encourages innovation with an emphasis on quality community service 
  • Protect the campus community through innovative and proactive police services
  • Develop public awareness, support and involvement in our community policing efforts
  • Continue to be an integral part of the campus community and a department that is widely respected and trusted
  • Achieve voluntary compliance with the rules, regulations and laws through equal application of enforcement
  • Maintain a commitment to excellence!

Message from the Police Chief

Chief Vander HorckEl Camino College Police Chief Matthew Vander Horck

Welcome to the El Camino Police Department’s Webpage!

As Chief of Police, I am honored to introduce you to our department and the vital role we play in ensuring the safety and security of our campus community. Our mission is to provide professional, responsive, and community-focused law enforcement services that foster a secure and inclusive environment for everyone.

The El Camino Police Department offers a range of programs and resources to support your safety and well-being, including:

  • Emergency Preparedness Information: Access guides and tools to help you respond effectively in critical situations.
  • Safety Escorts: Learn about services available to ensure safe travel across campus during evening hours.
  • Community Engagement Initiatives: Discover how we work closely with students, faculty, and staff to build strong connections and address safety concerns.
  • Crime Prevention Tips: Explore presentations and materials designed to empower you with strategies to reduce risks and enhance personal security. 
  • Cadet Program: Students are employed part-time by the Police Department as Cadets, and provide a crucial role in supporting the department and the campus community.  The students gain valuable experience in public safety, leadership, and teamwork, while also acting as liaisons between the police department and students, fostering communication and trust. 

We value transparency and collaboration and encourage you to explore this website to learn more about our services, resources, and team. Your feedback is vital to our continuous improvement, so please don’t hesitate to reach out through our various platforms. 

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the El Camino Police Department. Together, we can maintain a safe, supportive, and thriving campus community.

Stay safe and Go Warriors!

 

Sincerely,

Matthew S. Vander Horck
Chief of Police

 

Working in Partnership with Our Campus Community

The Police Department has adopted the community-oriented policing philosophy throughout our organization. We believe that this policing style and philosophy has made us more effective in policing the campus community and with meeting the needs of our community. 

The department also employs part-time student workers (police cadets) who provide a wide variety of support services that assist the Police Department in providing quality law enforcement services to the campus community. Some of these services include securing and un-securing of facilities, picking up found property, making student notifications, parking enforcement, operating the campus courtesy shuttle and assisting the public at the front desk of the Police Department. 

Training

The Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency that fully subscribes to the standards of the California Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (POST). El Camino College was one of the first California Community Colleges in the state to form and maintain a POST-certified Police Department. 

Police officers regularly attend advanced officer training courses to keep them current with the latest law enforcement practices and methods and to meet statewide POST training requirements. 

Officers receive the same training as city or county law enforcement agencies throughout the state, plus additional training to meet the unique needs of a campus community. The Police Department works very closely with other law enforcement agencies so that we can maintain effective communications and coordinate our efforts to provide quality safety services. 

We believe that by working in partnership with the campus community, we can be more effective in making El Camino College a safe and inclusive environment for our students, staff and visitors. We have always enjoyed an excellent relationship with the campus community that we serve. Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can be of any assistance.

Learn More

The following document(s) are published in compliance with California Senate Bill 978. Please note that the El Camino College Police Department policy manual has multiple changes throughout the year. Due diligence will be made to ensure the updated policy is published in a reasonable amount of time. 

View Current El Camino College Police Department Policy Manual

View AB 481 - Military Equipment Policy and Information

The El Camino Community College District Police Advisory Committee works with the Chief of Police and the Police Department to provide quality police and safety services to the campus community.  

The Police Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from campus management, faculty, staff, and students.  

The committee assists the chief of police and the District with identifying campus crime and safety concerns and provides valuable feedback on the quality and level of service provided by the Police Department to the campus community. The committee meets quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month or on an as-needed basis. Go to the ECC Portal for meeting minutes.   

Contact Information

If you are interested in learning more about this committee or are interested in becoming a member, please contact Chief of Police Michael Trevis at 310-660-3100.

 

The El Camino Community College District Parking & Traffic Advisory Council works with the District and Police Services to maintain and improve quality parking facilities and services for the staff, students and visitors of the campus. 

The council meets every other month and is made up of representatives from campus management, faculty, staff, and students. 

Some of the issues the council addresses are parking availability, signage, lighting, disabled parking, enforcement, traffic flow, parking permit requirements and the campus courtesy shuttle service. 

Contact

If you have any concerns that you would like to bring to the attention of the Parking and Traffic Advisory Council, please contact Parking Services at 310-660-6769.