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Nunez brings safety skills to ULV

Sitting in the familiar electric vehicle, Michael Nunez is ready for his next call to ensure safety and assist students on campus. As a former Chief of Police for the Compton Unified School District, Nunez applies his knowledge and experience at the University of La Verne as the assistant director of Campus Safety and Transportation Department. / photo by Yelena Ovcharenko
Sitting in the familiar electric vehicle, Michael Nunez is ready for his next call to ensure safety and assist students on campus. As a former Chief of Police for the Compton Unified School District, Nunez applies his knowledge and experience at the University of La Verne as the assistant director of Campus Safety and Transportation Department. / photo by Yelena Ovcharenko

Marilee Lorusso
Staff Writer

There’s a new face in the Campus Safety and Transportation Department at the University of La Verne. Former Chief of Police for the Compton Unified School District Michael Nunez was recently hired to be the new Assistant Director. The current Director of Campus Safety and Transportation John Lentz had the final say in hiring Nunez.

Contrary to what some thought, Nunez was not hired to be Lentz’s replacement.

“That was not why he was hired,” said Lentz, who had announced his plans to retire last spring, but then stayed on.

Nunez had to apply and go through a formal interviewing process for the job.

“I was looking for a job at a university,” Nunez said.

Responsibilities for the new assistant director include day-to-day supervision of the officers, handling scheduling issues for the main campus and the University’s College of Law, reviewing reports that the officers fill out and turn in, and providing input on evaluations.

Currently, the construction being done on campus is one of the priorities of the campus safety office.

Staff there is keeping a watchful eye on the construction, as well as the new Student Center, “Leo’s Den.”

Everything that goes on around campus is ongoing for the department.

“Michael is a very positive personality and he is very enthusiastic,” Lentz said of new Assistant Director Nunez.

“He is always available to assist the officers whereas I am often in meetings and not available.

“I believe that the officers have accepted his leadership style very well and are looking forward to working with him,” he added.

Nunez has brought his experience and knowledge of law enforcement to ULV.

“I like it very much,” Nunez said of ULV. “The students and staff are very nice.”

Nunez said that his family was somewhat surprised that he started working again because he was retired.

Originally from the Bronx, New York, Nunez attended Cardinal Hayes High School.

After graduating, Nunez joined the Air Force, serving from 1965-1969. While in the Air Force, Nunez was an inventory management specialist working with aircrafts.

Following his service in the Air Force, he moved to California and began applying for positions in law enforcement.

Compton Police Department was home for Nunez for more than 14 years. While at the department, Nunez served as a patrol officer, detective in the juvenile division, and sergeant over patrol operations and communications and community affairs.

Nunez also served as Chief of Police for Compton Unified School District for 15 years where he worked to maintain a safe environment for students and staff.

While serving at the Compton Police Department, Nunez graduated from Cal State-Dominguez Hills. There he received a Bachelor’s degree in public administration.

After 30 years of service in law enforcement, Nunez retired for four years.

“I just wanted to get back into the workplace,” Nunez said. “I felt that it was time for me to get back to work.”

Nunez currently lives in Chino.

He is married with three adult children and two grandchildren.

Marilee Lorusso can be reached at mlorusso@ulv.edu.

Marilee Lorusso, Editor in Chief
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Yelena Ovcharenko, Web Editor
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