The University selected a permanent Community Advisory Board for the Department of Public Safety, an email from Erroll Southers, associate senior vice president for safety and risk assurance read.

The CAB will advise DPS and oversee the implementation of their recommendations for improving  accountability, transparency and community care within the program, as well as introducing alternatives to armed response. 

The Board will also review DPS performance and misconduct data, as well as continually review and adapt the ONE USC Safety Vision statement, which details what it means to feel safe at USC and how the University can assure this. Vice President for Student Life Monique Allard will chair the CAB along with Southers. The Board consists of 21 students, faculty and community members. Southers said in the email that Board members will work to “ensure the spirit and letter of the CAB recommendations continue to be implemented.” 

In an interview with the Daily Trojan, Southers said the primary role of the CAB is to engage and form a dialogue with students to further improve campus policies and safety. 

“What [the CAB] can do [for students] is continue to listen,” he said. 

President Carol Folt founded the CAB during the 2020-2021 academic year in order to reconceptualize public safety at USC. The team proposed 45 recommendations for public safety at USC, such as having services other than DPS address mental health crises, and the creation of trauma-informed mental health services to assist students who have been victims of racial profiling. 

Southers said that CAB originally intended to complete its work in a much smaller time frame, but found that infeasible. However, with support from President Folt, they were able to expand the program to where it is currently.

“Our slogan became, ‘We’re gonna do it slow and do it right,’” Southers said. 

The team created plans to integrate these recommendations into USC operations. The CAB advanced several recommendations during Summer 2023, including an effort to ensure DPS met disturbance calls with equitable responses and enforcement and ensuring that DPS reporting practices were in line with state law.

The CAB also emphasizes student involvement, namely through the “Kitchen CABinet” open meeting hosted by Southers on the third Thursday of every month. Students, faculty and parents are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on USC’s public safety initiatives. 

“[CAB’s charge] is to add new things to the work that they’ve done,” Southers said. “To hear students’ voices and be able to put things into action.”