Message from the Chief of Police

Welcome to the Sonoma State University Police and Parking Services web site. Here you will find a wealth of information that is intended to help you become knowledgeable of Police and Parking Services’ role on campus, safety programs and information, parking rules and regulation, crime reporting procedures, disaster management activities and mitigation efforts.

I invite you to peruse the web site, particularly noting our Mission Statement and authority. Our police officers are fully sworn peace officers in the State of California who received their training at the police academy along with police recruits from other law enforcement agencies. You will find the staff at Police and Parking Services well trained, educated and committed to the guiding principles of a community-oriented policing paradigm. As Patrick V. Murphy (Law Enforcement News, January 15, 1995) writes:


Community Policing — the only proper method in a free society — is based on the reality that the police depend upon the eyes, ears, information and influence of the public to exert social control. Any departure from it leads us in the direction of a police state.

We understand that a successful law enforcement and crime prevention program is one that works in collaboration with the community, which is our “report card” for success. Our priorities are those that enhance the safety of the campus community. These priorities are usually accomplished by keeping the community informed, working in concert with campus departments and local agencies, and mitigating anticipated crime trends. We encourage our clients—faculty, staff and students—to timely report crimes or suspicious activities, to offer suggestions that might improve operations, and be an advocate to us by participating in safety related programs.

On behalf of the entire Police and Parking Services Team, we thank you for visiting this site and we wish you a safe learning experience at Sonoma State University.

Sincerely yours,

Nate Johnson, Ed. D.
Chief of Police and Sr. Director
for Police and Parking Services