We celebrate the recently announced partnership between Alpena Community College and the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office to provide enhanced security on ACC’s Alpena campus.

The college and the Sheriff’s Office have inked a five-year contract that takes effect Aug. 19 and will provide a Sheriff’s Office deputy to the Alpena campus for about $61,000 a year.

The deputy will have a campus office, attend campus events, including Board of Trustees meetings, and will participate in safety-related ACC committees, the college said in a news release.

Campus police can provide numerous benefits.

Obviously, they improve security. The very presence of a police officer can deter crime because would-be criminals don’t want to face the police. And, if a crime happens, the campus officer can more quickly respond to protect students and campus staff.

They also improve security by improving emergency preparedness. An officer working with campus leadership can provide expertise and insight on improving policies, procedures, and infrastructure to make the campus safer and more ready to respond to emergencies.

As a friendly daily presence, campus police also can help improve relationships between young people and police, improving trust in the police force and making students more likely to cooperate with police investigations, which can help police solve crimes.

We’re glad to see ACC and the Sheriff’s Office taking a proactive approach to better protecting ACC’s students and staff.