Following recent media reports referencing “some student concerns” about safety at College of the Desert’s (COD) expanded Indio campus expanded Indio campus, city leaders saw a presentation by Indio Police Chief Brian Tully, where they learned that Downtown Indio remains one of the city’s safest areas.
Chief Tully’s presentation at the October 15 Indio City Council meeting provided policing data going back to January 1, 2025. The key takeaway of the presentation was Tully’s statement, “Our downtown and the surrounding areas are safe,” Tully said, emphasizing there were zero vehicle burglaries, zero thefts, zero batteries, and zero assaults logged in the downtown/campus area over the 10 months.
A recent case involving an unhoused person on campus highlighted the point that safety protocols between COD and Indio PD worked as intended. COD’s on-site public safety team responded immediately to the incident and notified police; Indio detectives are now leading the follow-up.
Indio Mayor Glenn Miller
Mayor Glenn Miller said he took issue with how the situation was framed in some local media outlets, arguing that the city would have responded “in a minute” had a request for immediate assistance been made, and that the broader picture shows a thriving downtown with significant foot traffic and “very, very few issues.” He added that the city is already increasing patrol visibility downtown and will continue to adjust staffing as the number of visitors to the downtown district grows.
Council members echoed the chief’s call for perspective and partnership. Councilmember Ben Guitron, a retired police department public information officer, urged consistent reporting of incidents by citizens to ensure the highest level of safety prevails and that COD security and the Indio PD are keenly aware of what is going on beyond anything they encounter on their own. He praised the department’s work amid an ongoing hiring push from roughly 75 sworn officers toward a goal of 90.
Councilmember Waymond Fermon highlighted the collaboration among Indio PD, COD Public Safety (Serna & Associates Security), the city’s ambassador program and the new library’s security team, noting that “it’s not just our police who stop crime. It’s everyone.”
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz said strong communication loops are already in place, so COD knows to contact Indio PD immediately when violence is threatened. Councilmember Elaine Holmes, a longtime downtown business owner, said she regularly walks the district “at all hours” and “feels very safe,” thanking police for making downtown security a visible priority.
Protocols and policing focus
Indio officials emphasized that COD’s campus security and Indio PD have established procedures, roles and responsibilities: if something happens, campus officers stabilize a scene, gather statements, and notify police when appropriate. For any active or violent threat, students, staff, or security should call 911 immediately. The city – one of the few in the valley with its own police department – said public safety remains its number one priority, supported by a Quality of Life Team, regular patrols in the downtown area (including foot patrols around the COD campus) and ongoing coordination with college leadership.
In response to increased issues created by the city’s homeless population, in 2012 the Quality of Life Team was formed, and has made exceptional strides along the way.
In a statement provided to GPS Business Insider, Neil Lingle, Ed.D. College of the Desert Interim Executive Director, Institutional Advancement said, “The College is grateful for its partnership with the Indio Police Department, which continues to work with our campus on prevention and response. In addition to ongoing College efforts to provide for a safe and secure campus environment, a current independent review is underway to assess policies and practices, identify vulnerabilities, recommend improvements, and establish clear timelines for implementation. These steps are part of a larger, ongoing effort to create a campus climate grounded in care, vigilance, and accountability to ensure safety is not a one-time response – it is a shared, continuous commitment.”
The bottom line
City leaders say the numbers and the response protocols tell a different story than recent media headlines: Downtown Indio is busy and getting busier – yet remains “safe and secure,” with COD, campus security and Indio PD working in concert to keep it that way. As growth continues, both the city and the college say they’ll keep adjusting resources and communication to ensure swift responses and sustained public confidence.
