Trinity Spotlight: Safety and Security Department

Trinity’s Department of Campus Safety and Security works to ensure that each student, faculty, staff, and guest enjoys all of the educational, spiritual, and social opportunities that occur on campus every day.

“We’re concerned about the overall safety of everyone on campus, and our students off campus,” said Thomas Kazen, who was named director of campus safety and security in March. Kazen, who is married to Jackie and has three sons, joined Trinity from the Holland (Mich.) Public Schools. Before that, he worked for the Holland Police Department for 27 years and was a detective sergeant at the time he retired.

A friend heard about the job at Trinity and mentioned it to Kazen. He believed that the Lord called him to come to the College, even though it meant uprooting his family. “I believe in spirit and faith,” Kazen said. And even though he worked for the Holland Police Department while Trinity’s President Kurt Dykstra was mayor of the city, they didn’t really know each other, he said.

Trinity’s Campus Safety and Security Department, located in Tibstra Hall, has several missions: promoting a safe campus environment, detecting fire and safety hazards; regulating and enforcing parking and traffic on campus; coordinating local police support; and implementing emergency and action plans. While they aren’t sworn police officers with arrest powers, Trinity campus safety officers work 24/7 to provide security and safety services. They can issue parking and traffic tickets which may be billed to the financial accounts of students. The campus safety department maintains a close professional working relationship with local law enforcement agencies. Training for all full- and part-time security officers includes state certification, CPR/AED certification, and on the job training.

Currently, Kazen is focused on emergency response efforts, overseeing risk management, and working with incoming freshmen to explain safety on and off campus.

Click here to learn more about how the department works to keep us all safe!