Former Laney College athletic director John Beam reportedly expressed concerns about security at the school just days before he was shot dead on campus by a former high school athlete.
According to ABC 7 News, one of the last times many saw Coach Beam was at a public presentation with the interim director of community safety, advocating campus safety.
"I believe his exact words as he was expressing frustration about the response was 'six guards, 24 hours - how does that work?'" said Desmond Meagley, editor-in-chief of the Peralta Citizen. "He was saying that there was inadequate response, that there weren't enough guards, and the response time wasn't sufficient and that the follow-up wasn't there."
The Peralta Citizen has previously reported on Beam's concerns when he spoke up about a break-in that happened the fieldhouse where he was shot.
"He was dissatisfied with the response that came from our security. He said that they were able to show him essentially footage of what happened but were not actually able to pursue or detain a suspect because they are armed private security guards and their job is to observe and report. They are limited in what they can do, they can't arrest as private security," said Meagley.
Beam was reportedly concerned that the college was less safe after the Peralta Community College District, of which Laney College is a part, cancelled its contract with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office in 2020.
