College community welcomes Jim Schnoor, Lydia, and Alec Sherman
Dakota County Technical College has hired three new security officers for the college’s campus in Rosemount, Minnesota. Tony Pangal serves as the safety and security director at DCTC and Inver Hills Community College. Tony has been looking forward to introducing the new security officers, Lydia, Alec Sherman, and Jim Schnoor, to our campus community.
“I’m excited to have our new team assembled,” Tony said. “I am confident they will provide excellent service while ensuring the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and guests. Our search committee was extremely selective in choosing candidates who matched our campus culture. Our new officers will provide long-term professional service to our community.”
The Security Office at DCTC enforces campus policies and the student code of conduct. Through mutual aid, the department assists with enforcement of local, state, and federal laws. For additional security services, the Security Office also contracts with the local police department.
The college’s security officers patrol campus facilities and grounds, continually alert for security, emergency, and safety incidents. Campus security officers respond to all issues in a courteous and professional manner. They are trained to resolve issues promptly, escalating to the proper resource when necessary. The paramount goal of our campus security officers is maintaining the safety and security of our college community.
Campus security officer duties
Friendly customer service with a safety and security mindset.
- Respond to service requests by the campus community, answer questions, and provide direction.
- Provide ongoing education in applying campus and Minnesota State security, safety, and emergency policies and procedures; e.g. drug, alcohol, traffic, parking, special events, safe work practices, applicable college policies, and city ordinances, and state and federal laws to ensure the public safety of the campus community.
- Perform record-keeping and reporting of safety and security incidents, safety equipment and property inspections and maintenance. Ensuring that equipment is operating properly and incident details/data are accurately captured/recorded in a timely manner.
- Conduct interviews with victims, witnesses, and others, and to preserve and protect evidence so that incidents can be resolved in a timely manner, or if warranted, an external investigation can be pursued.
- Perform other duties as assigned to ensure the smooth functioning of the department and maintain the reputation of the organization as a viable business partner.
Meet our new campus security officers
Alec Sherman
Alec Sherman
Hometown: Apple Valley, Minnesota
Related job experience:
2011 – 2014: Worked as a juvenile corrections specialist working with high-risk juvenile offenders, assisting with mentoring, teaching life skills, and handling crisis situations related to physical altercations and mental health crisis.
2015 – 2019: Supervised a private security group in Western North Dakota, performing physical security as well as Department of Transportation commercial vehicle inspections for the world’s largest oil field services company.
2019 – 2021: Worked as a public safety officer in a Level 2 Trauma center in Duluth, Minnesota before transferring to North Memorial hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, to continue working as a public safety officer in a level 1 Trauma center.
Alec investigated criminal offenses that occurred in and around the hospital as well as responded to crisis situations involving violent patients and visitors, and worked extensively with individuals with various mental health concerns, including responding to mental health crisis situations.
Credentials (degrees, diplomas, certificates):
Attended Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College for two-year Law Enforcement associate degree
40 Hour Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for responding to mental health crisis situations
Emergency Medical Responder Certification
Mental Health First Aid Training
Q & A
Why did you choose to work in the campus security industry?
I have worked in every aspect of private security over a 10-year career except in an educational setting. I live nearby in Apple Valley and thought I could continue my career utilizing my skills and training in an educational setting here at DCTC.
What are your work goals as you become more familiar with the DCTC campus community?
My goals are to increase awareness and understanding of safety and security within the campus community, assist others in any way I can, and build positive working relationships with students, faculty, and staff. Ensuring a safe and secure campus is my number one goal.
What is the most important responsibility of a campus security officer?
The most important responsibility of a campus security officer is building positive relationships with the entire campus community. These relationships build trust and will ultimately raise awareness to the importance of safety security in an educational setting. This trust will allow our community to contact us in the event of an emergency or report suspicious or unsafe activities occurring on campus.
Jim Schnoor
Jim Schnoor
Hometown: Moose Lake, Minnesota, originally, but now living on a hobby farm four miles from DCTC in Rosemount, Minnesota.
Related job experience:
White Bear Lake police officer/corporal/acting sergeant for more than 10 years
Dakota County Deputy sheriff for more than 17 years; worked road patrol, water patrol, criminal investigations, fugitive/warrants, court security, and civil process
Federal Reserve law enforcement officer for more six years
Credentials (degrees, diplomas, certificates):
A.S./B.S./M.S. from Minnesota State University Mankato
Attended Law Enforcement Skills at Hibbing Community College
Certified Minnesota Peace Officer
Minnesota Emergency Medical Responder
Emergency Manager
Commercial Driver’s License holder
General Radiotelephone Operator (GROL)Licensed Amateur Radio Operator-Extra Class
Q & A
Why did you choose to work in the campus security industry?
I have worked in public safety in the public sector all of my adult life. When the opportunity came to work at DCTC, I jumped at the chance.
What are your work goals as you become more familiar with the DCTC campus community?
Networking is a huge part of the campus community. I look forward to getting to know more faculty, staff, students, and visitors to the DCTC campus community.
What is the most important responsibility of a campus security officer?
The most important responsibility is keeping the DCTC campus community safe. We do that by performing a variety of tasks to ensure we have a great and safe experience at DCTC, whether we work, study, or visit here!
Lydia
Lydia
Home State: Minnesota
Related job experience: 2+ years of security, leadership experience
Credentials (degrees, diplomas, certificates):
High school diploma
First Aid training
Verbal Judo training
Q & A
Why did you choose to work in the campus security industry?
I have been in situations where I was or felt unsafe and wished someone would have been around to help. I decided one day that I would find a job where I could help keep others safe.
What are your work goals as you become more familiar with the DCTC campus community?
I want others to feel safer and more comfortable with me around.
What is the most important responsibility of a campus security officer?
To be vigilant and report things out of the ordinary to keep everyone safe.
Learn more about the Security Office at DCTC by contacting:
Tony Pangal
Director of Safety & Security
Dakota County Technical College
Inver Hills Community College
DCTC: 651- 423-8774
Inver Hills: 651-450-3545
Alec Sherman, Lydia, Tony Pangal, Jim Schnoor
Emergency Contacts
Medical/Fire/Police: Dial 9-911 in an emergency
Campus Security Office: 651-423-8388
Campus Security Officer Cell Phone: 651-272-8099Non-Emergency Contacts
Escort Request: 651-450-3711
Health and Safety Officer: 651-423-8371
Campus Supervisor: 651-583-4933 (security director cell phone)Important links
Emergency Preparedness
Safety & Security Emergency Management Plan
