More Deputies At CSU-Pueblo

It?s back to school time, and if your kids are headed off to CSU-Pueblo this fall, they?re going to be more protection than in years past.

The campus has always relied on short-term contracts to secure the services of the Pueblo Sheriff?s Office. Now, with the enrollment up, the school is beefing up that contract and beefing up the sheriff?s presence at CSU.

Students said they see deputies on campus all the time.

?Pretty much all day, they will either be walking around or in patrol cars, all around campus really,? said Marcial Williamson, a student at CSU-Pueblo .

Meanwhile, other students said they have helped them.

?My sophomore year somebody broke into our apartment and stole a couple of things from us,? said Mark Sterling, a student at CSU.

It was campus security that responded to his call after the theft. ?The biggest thing is to understand that the law enforcement on the campus is no different than you get from the Sheriff?s Office on a day-to-day basis out in the community,? said Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk Taylor.

CSU-Pueblo has more deputies protecting campus.

?As everybody knows the success of CSU-Pueblo and their growth over the past few years was the catalyst for us to renegotiate this contract,? said Taylor.

The Pueblo County Sheriff?s Office will oversee security for CSU-Pueblo for the next three years. Part of the new contract means bumping up security from seven deputies to 13.

?There have been a couple incidents this past year where they needed more security,? said Jenal Valdez, a student.

The first incident she is reminded of is one that happened a few months ago.

?There was a bomb threat at one time. That was kind of scary,? said Valdez.

Several students told KRDO NewsChannel 13, they feel safe on campus, but they would like to see more deputies at night and during sporting events.

There are always at least 2 deputies on campus. Sheriff Taylor said if enrollment continues to go up, they?ll add more.