Strengthening Belonging: CSPS Officers Complete Hate Crimes Investigation Training
At a time when colleges and universities across the country are grappling with questions of belonging, safety, and civil discourse, Gonzaga University's Campus Security and Public Safety (CSPS) office is taking proactive steps to ensure its staff are prepared to recognize, respond to, and help prevent hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents.
CSPS officers recently completed specialized Hate Crimes Investigation Training through the organization Out to Protect, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization founded to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and LGBTQ+ communities. While that mission remains central to the organization's work, its training has expanded to address hate crimes and bias incidents affecting a broad range of communities.
In taking part in Out to Protect’s program, Gonzaga’s public safety team deepened their capacity to serve the Gonzaga community with greater knowledge, empathy, and understanding.
Tyler describes the training as designed to help officers identify elements of state and federal hate-crime laws, recognize hate-crime indicators, gather and document evidence, and effectively support victims. The training focuses on understanding the experience of those who have been targeted by hate.
"It helps officers understand how victims feel, as their psychological safety is just as important as their physical safety," Tyler says.
The hate-crimes training is part of a broader effort to strengthen Gonzaga's commitment to safety, belonging, and care for the campus after reports last winter of racist incidents targeting members of the Gonzaga community both in person and online.
President Katia Passerini established a Presidential Task Force on Accompaniment, Safety & Belonging in spring 2026 to examine and improve how the University responds to incidents that make students, particularly those from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, feel unwelcome or unsafe.
The decision for CSPS officers to take the Out to Protest training grew directly out of Tyler's experience serving on the task force and in support of its goals.
"As a direct result of the insights and lessons learned from the Presidential Task Force, I took intentional steps to enhance my department's knowledge, awareness, and response capabilities to hate crimes," Tyler says.
The hate-crimes training was completed by the entire CSPS team in summer 2026, and is the latest addition to several specialized educational programs undertaken by CSPS.
For the past six years, officers have also completed autism-awareness training through the Scott Center for Autism Treatment, work that has equipped officers with strategies for recognizing behavioral indicators, communicating effectively with individuals who may struggle with verbal or social cues, and minimizing sensory overload during encounters. The department also requires Sexual and Gender Equality (SAGE) training, with a curriculum developed specifically for Campus Security and Public Safety by Lincoln LGBTQ+ Resource Center Program Manager Matthew Barcus to help officers better understand and support LGBTQ+ students, employees, and visitors.
Taken together, the trainings reinforce the idea that effective campus safety depends as much on human understanding as it does on procedures and protocol.
"Campus Security and Public Safety believes safety is a two-part function: physical and psychological," Tyler says. "If both pieces are not addressed, a student, staff, or faculty member will not feel safe."
"This training helps address the psychological impact of hate crimes, adding that second piece to what we can do physically to keep our students, staff, and faculty safe.”
That perspective reflects the university's commitment to the dignity of every person. And for Tyler, the outcome is straightforward: better-informed officers, stronger relationships, and a safer campus community.